Wilhelm II. received me cordially. It was not the first time we had met. About the time of his ascending the throne I had been the means of inflicting on him a defeat which a smaller man would have found it hard to forgive. Fortunately, the German Kaiser was of metal sterling enough to recognise merit even in an enemy, and to realise that my fidelity to my then employer was the best guarantee that I should be equally faithful to himself, if it fell to my lot to serve him. ‘What has Finkelstein told you?’ was the Emperor’s first question, after he had graciously invited me to sit down. ‘Only that he was able to tell me nothing, sire.’ The Emperor gave me a suspicious glance. ‘He appeared to regret that your Majesty had not given him your confidence,’ I added, choosing my words warily. ‘He assured me that you might rely on his entire devotion, as much so as if he were a native of your hereditary States.’ ‘And what do you say as to that?’ demanded the Kaiser, with a piercing look. ‘I think that your Majesty cannot be too careful whom you trust.’ Wilhelm II. allowed himself to smile gravely. ‘I see, Monsieur V----, that you are a prudent man. If Herr Finkelstein wishes to convince me of his loyalty to the Hohenzollerns, he cannot begin better than by renouncing the pension which he continues to draw secretly from the Duke of ----.’ His Majesty pronounced the name by which a well-known dispossessed sovereign goes in his exile. Familiar as I long have been with instances of perfidy in others, I could not restrain an exclamation of astonishment at this revelation of Finkelstein’s double dealing. The Kaiser continued-- ‘After that you will not be surprised if I caution you particularly against letting Herr Finkelstein know anything of the object of the inquiry I wish you to undertake.’ I bowed respectfully, and waited with some impatience to learn the true nature of my mission. ‘I could not receive you here without taking some one into the secret of your employment,’ the Kaiser went on to explain; ‘and I chose Finkelstein in order to give the affair as much as possible the aspect of a private and domestic matter. In reality the task I have to set you is one of the most grave in which you have ever been engaged.’ The Kaiser took one of the Berlin papers of the day before, which was lying on the desk in front of him, and pointed to a column in which was set out in conspicuous type the telegram which had convulsed Europe and Africa, and had already caused Lord Salisbury to issue orders for the mobilisation of his Flying Squadron. ‘I have sent for you, in two words, to find out for me the authorship of this telegram,’ the Kaiser said. [Illustration: “‘I have sent for you, in two words, to find out for me the authorship of this telegram,’ the Kaiser said.”] Notwithstanding my long training in the most tortuous paths of secret intrigue, I was fairly taken aback by this announcement.