I had reckoned without Wilhelm II. when I undertook my perilous enterprise. The colonel of the guard, it appeared, had reported that a detective had been admitted into the Palace by Finkelstein’s request. The Kaiser had thought little of the matter at first, but later on his curiosity had become too strong for him, and he had decided to find out for himself what was going on. I confess that for the first and only time in my life I turned cold with fear, as the sudden apparition of the armed Emperor burst on my startled consciousness. ‘Arrest that man!’ he commanded, without giving me time to speak. Two soldiers advanced from the corridor and pinioned me by the arms. Then the Kaiser himself stepped forward, seized the papers I had been studying, and thrust them into his breast. ‘Order a firing-party with ball cartridges to get ready in the inner courtyard,’ was the next command. All this time it was evident that the Kaiser had not recognised me. Indeed, my disguise was so perfect that I felt quite secure on that head. The question was whether it would make matters worse or better for me if I revealed my identity. ‘Now,’ his Majesty demanded, turning to me, ‘who are you, and what are you doing here?’ [Illustration: “‘Now,’ said the Kaiser, stepping close to my side, ‘tell me the truth--the real truth, mind--and I will spare your life.’”] ‘Does your Majesty wish me to speak before these men?’ The Kaiser hesitated. ‘Yes,’ he said at last; ‘speak out.’ I shrugged my shoulders. ‘I am here as the agent of the Federal Council,’ I declared. The Federal Council, as most readers will remember, is the Senate of the German Empire. It represents more especially the dynasties of Bavaria, Saxony, and the other small kingdoms united with Prussia to form the modern Empire. Wilhelm II. started as I pronounced the name of this body. It is well known that his Imperial Majesty does not enjoy the full confidence of some of his satellite kings. In the army there has been a good deal of friction beneath the surface. It was therefore not at all improbable that the lesser royalties of Germany should have employed a spy to detect the designs of their erratic and overbearing suzerain. ‘Did you tell this to Herr Finkelstein?’ was the next question. ‘No, sire.’ I was anxious to save the Director from the Imperial wrath. ‘I persuaded him that I was your Majesty’s confidential agent.’ The Kaiser glared at me, and muttered an exclamation which I need not repeat. ‘How do I know that you are telling the truth to me, any more than you did to him?’ he cried. ‘Your Majesty cannot know it,’ I answered coldly. ‘The Council, of course, will disown me.’ ‘You are a cool hand,’ Wilhelm commented, gnawing his moustache. ‘It seems to me that I can do nothing with you, except shoot you.’ ‘That will be much the simplest course,’ I replied. I saw that it would be a contest between the Emperor’s curiosity and his vengeance, and already I began to hope.