The World's Greatest Military Spies and Secret Service AgentsBarton, George
History
The World's Greatest Military Spies and Secret Service Agents
Barton, George
Secret service; Spies
On the day after his interview with Napoleon he started on the mission
which was to involve him in the most sensational events of his
checkered career. He met his old friend and confederate, Lieutenant
Bendel, at Muhldorf, and by him was presented to General Kienmayer, in
command of the Austrian forces. He was well received as before by this
officer, who regarded him as a member of the Austrian Secret Service.
Indeed, Kienmayer had taken a liking to the medium-sized man with the
scarred forehead and was glad to meet him again. He little thought that
this was the man who had betrayed the Austrian military secrets and who
more than any one individual, was responsible for the maneuvers which
had resulted in the surrender of Field Marshal Mack.
Schulmeister, with his unwavering blue eyes and his brusque soldierly
manner, had several talks with Kienmayer and learned that the Austrian
was not yet ready to take the offensive. Also he was given an inkling
of the movements of General Kontovsoff. This valuable information was
transmitted to Napoleon, who made his plans accordingly.
But Schulmeister was not satisfied to stop at this stage of the game.
He had another scheme hatching in his fertile mind, and presently he
made it known to his friend Bendel.
“I want you to get me permission to wear the uniform of an Austrian
staff officer.”
Bendel, who had already gone to great lengths to serve the spy, gasped
at the daring of this latest request.
“But why?” he asked. “What reason can be given for such a thing?”
The blue-eyed one smiled grimly. The humor of the business was not lost
on him.
“The best reason in the world,” he replied. “It is but a slight return
for all I have done for the Austrian army.”
The things he had done for the Austrian army, had they been known
to Kienmayer, would have caused that officer to give an order for
Schulmeister’s execution at sunrise. Instead of that he gave him
permission to wear the Austrian uniform. The result of this was
far-reaching. It helped to make history. In a word, it placed the
Austrian army—or a considerable section of it—at the mercy of the
Alsatian smuggler.
Schulmeister went to Vienna, where he proclaimed himself to be the
representative of General Kienmayer. Vienna, even at that time, was
numbered among the gayest capitals of Europe, and the supposed secret
service agent of the Austrian commander was received with open arms
and treated with marked distinction. He mingled with the officers and
was entertained at the cafés and altogether made a marked impression
with the people. His natural qualities helped him greatly in this bold
adventure. The scars on his forehead, his apparent reticence and his
military bearing all helped to win the confidence of those with whom he
was thrown into contact.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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