"Tell me, Heltzendorff," exclaimed His Majesty suddenly, "do you know this person?" and he placed before my astonished gaze a very artistic cabinet photograph of the pretty Elise. "Yes," I answered frankly, quite taken aback. "It is Fräulein Breitenbach." "And what do you know of her?" inquired His Majesty sharply. "You introduced her and her mother to Court, I believe." I saw that the Emperor had discovered something which annoyed him. What could it be? At once I was compelled to admit that I had set down their names for invitation, and, further, I explained all that I knew about them. "You are certain you know nothing more?" asked the Emperor, his brows contracted and his eyes fixed steadily upon mine. "Understand that no blame attaches to you." I assured him that I had revealed all that I knew concerning them. "Hold no further communication with either mother or daughter," His Majesty said. "Leave for Paris by the eight o'clock train to-morrow morning, and go to Baron von Steinmetz, the chief of our confidential service in France." Then, turning to the Crown-Prince, he said: "You have his address." "Yes," said the younger man. "He is passing as Monsieur Felix Reumont, and is living at 114 bis, Avenue de Neuilly, close to the Pont." I scribbled the name and address upon the back of an envelope, whereupon His Majesty said: "Carry my verbal orders to Steinmetz, and tell him to act upon the orders I sent him by courier yesterday. And you will assist him. He will explain matters fully when you arrive." Then, crossing to the Crown-Prince's writing-table, His Majesty took a large envelope, into which, with the same hand, he dexterously placed the photograph with several papers, and sealed them with the Crown-Prince's seal. At the moment the Crown-Princess entered, said some words to her husband in a low voice, and went out again. "Give this to Von Steinmetz from me," His Majesty said after she had gone. I bowed as I took it from His Majesty's hand, my curiosity now greatly excited regarding Frau Breitenbach and her pretty daughter. What, I wondered, was in the wind? "And, Heltzendorff, please report to me," remarked the Heir, still lounging lazily in the chair, his white, well-manicured hands clasped behind his head. "Where shall you stay?" "At the Hôtel Chatham. I always stay there in preference to the larger hotels." "And not a bad judge," laughed His Majesty merrily. "I remember when I used to go to Paris incognito one could dine at the 'Chatham' most excellently--old-fashioned, but very good. Vian's, across the road, is also good." The Kaiser knows Paris well, though he has never visited the French capital openly. Bowing, I took leave of my Imperial master, and next morning at eight o'clock, set out upon my mysterious mission.