I spent that summer of 1900 uneventfully in Brittany, and in the early autumn off we started for Berlin. This was another turning-point in my career. The German capital was to further as dazzling a future as my heart could have dreamed--and with it were to come Romance, Fame and Wealth under the shadow of the Prussian eagle's wing. One of my letters from Nordica was to Frau von Rath, the charming wife of Herr Adolph von Rath, the leading banker of Berlin. Frau von Rath maintained one of the most beautiful homes in the German capital, and her social functions were attended by leading dignitaries and officials of the Court. It was no small honor, therefore, to have the _entree_ to her receptions and to have her take an interest in the little American girl who had come to Berlin to study music. [Illustration: "I SPENT THE SUMMER IN BRITTANY"] Graziani proved to be a protege of Frau von Rath, and through her I met this strange and wonderfully gifted man, whose early death cut short a brilliant career. He proved a remarkable teacher, and I profited by his admirable instruction throughout that first winter in Berlin. One day, in the spring of 1901, Frau von Rath asked me if I could sing in German. "No, unfortunately only in French and Italian," I replied. "I came to Berlin to study, but I never expect to sing in opera here." "Would you like to sing for the Intendant of the Royal Opera?" she asked. The Intendant of the Royal Opera in Berlin is the personal representative of the Kaiser. He has the private ear of the sovereign, and is supposed to carry out his wishes in the conduct of the Royal Opera. To please him, therefore, would be a very great and unusual triumph. Would I like to sing for him? It is easy to imagine my reply. I made my preparations accordingly. With the care which I have always bestowed upon my costumes, I ordered an elaborate blue crepe-de-Chine evening gown, to be worn with pearls and diamonds. I carefully studied anew the waltz song from "Juliet," the aria from "Traviata," and the bird song from "Pagliacci." Suddenly, to my consternation, Frau von Rath notified me that the audience, which was to be in her ballroom, would have to be held in the afternoon instead of the evening, as some occasion at the Palace necessitated the presence of the Intendant there at night. I was desolate; but I agreed to sing, first begging Frau von Rath to draw the heavy curtains and turn on all the lights, as though for an evening function, so that I could wear my evening gown with the pearls and the diamonds. I can remember now the suppressed murmurs of "The crazy American!" when I appeared, but I obtained the compliment of immediate attention and created the effect I wished.