“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 I THE TELEGRAM WHICH BEGAN THE BOER WAR The initials under which I write these confessions are not those of my real name, which I could not disclose without exposing myself to the revenge of formidable enemies. As it is, I run a very great risk in making revelations which affect some of the most powerful personages now living; and it is only by the exercise of the utmost discretion that I can hope to avoid giving offence in quarters in which the slightest disrespect is apt to have serious consequences. If I should be found to err on the side of frankness, I can only plead in excuse that I have never yet betrayed the confidence placed in me by the various Governments and illustrious families which have employed me from time to time. The late Prince Bismarck once honoured me by saying: ‘To tell secrets to Monsieur V---- is like putting them into a strong box, with the certainty that they will not come out again until one wants them to.’ In these reminiscences it is my object to recount some of the services I have rendered to civilisation in the course of my career, while abstaining as far as possible from compromising exalted individuals or embittering international relations.