Chapter XII: The Black Pope 288

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE
“The Kaiser was attired in his most magnificent
costume, wearing the famous winged helmet on his
head, and surrounded by a galaxy of ministers and
great officers, all arrayed in the utmost military
splendour.” _Frontispiece_

“A glance at the cheval glass showed me a stiff,
well set-up Prussian official.” 10

“‘I have sent for you, in two words, to find out
for me the authorship of this telegram,’ the Kaiser
said.” 12

“‘My God!’ he cried out. ‘Who has done this? I shall
be ruined!’” 22

“‘We shall find out whether he is a priest,’ was the
retort.” 46

“She would talk about her convent.” 48

“‘Father Kehler has been good enough to visit a poor
sailor who is lying sick on board,’ he said, in a
tone evidently meant to rebuke my impertinence.” 50

“‘As to that--impossible!’ he exclaimed with vigour.
‘That is our secret--ours, you understand.’” 62

“‘Am I under arrest too?’ Prince Pierre demanded
with some indignation.” 72

“The Tsar now interposed in a tone of more authority
than I had ventured to hope for. ‘Do you suggest, M.
V----, that the whole staff of the French army are
engaged in a conspiracy to forge documents?’” 88

“‘Your Majesty must judge me by what I have
done already. Two days ago you had never heard
my name. Now I am here, alone with you, with a
loaded revolver in my pocket.’ The Sultan started
violently.” 98

“It was a singular scene, as I stood there laying
down pile after pile of greasy ten-thousand-rouble
notes on a richly inlaid table.” 106

“There at my feet, along the widening valley, lay a
double line of rails, and all across the level space
stretched low banks and ditches--the lines of a vast
encampment, capable of accommodating half a million
men.” 116

“I walked past him without a word.” 126

“‘I am not under anybody’s orders,’ I said, rising
to my feet.” 130

“‘You are free,’ he said briefly. ‘The right man has
been arrested, too late.’” 144

“‘Let me see your warrant,’ I said.” 158

“He bent forward to listen, and as he did so I
launched my clenched fist at his right temple with
my full force.” 164

“I watched the brave monarch read it through from
beginning to end without one manifestation of
dismay.” 168

“Finally he turned his back without a word, and
rushed from the room.” 176

“Wilhelm II. strode to me, seized me by the
shoulders, and thrust me out of the room.” 188

“‘Will you permit me to ask you,’ he said politely,
‘if you have ever done any business on behalf of the
Emperor of Austria-Hungary?’” 192

“The Emperor could not repress a slight start.” 198

“I rode right over him.” 212

“I took out my loaded revolver, cocked it, and
advanced to the threshold.” 232

“Queen Draga cast herself on the inanimate form on
the bed, concealed the face in her arms, and allowed
herself to be stabbed by a dozen bayonets.” 240

“‘V----!’ he exclaimed, drawing back as if he had
been stung.” 250

“‘Arrest that man!’ the Kaiser commanded, without
giving him time to speak.” 254

“‘Now,’ said the Kaiser, stepping close to my side,
‘tell me the truth--the real truth, mind--and I will
spare your life.’” 256

“‘I am going to ask you to undertake a service of an
unusual kind.’” 266

“My visitor started as she heard her name, and threw
up her veil with a gesture of astonishment and
indignation.” 274

“I was stopped at the barricade by a pompous
sergeant of police.” 280

“The chief detective came close up to me, put
his mouth to my ear, and whispered, ‘_Le drapeau
blanc!_’” 284

“I found the Cardinal absorbed in the inspection of
his newly arrived treasures.” 296

“Saddened and subdued, I quitted the audience
chamber of Pius X.” 306

“‘I can only render one more service to your Majesty,
and that is to advise you to make your peace with
the Black Pope.’” 308