Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 124, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1915 — Secrets of the Courts of Europe [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Secrets of the Courts of Europe

An Old Ambassador's Revelation* of the Inner History of Famous Episodes Heretofore Cloaked in Mystery

Chronicled

by ALLEN UPWARD

THE HONOR OF AN EMPRESS

"This Is a trivial affair," commented the ambassador, as he laid down the newspaper In which he had been reading an account of one of M. de Rochefort’s numerous duels. "1 do not wonder that you English amuse yourselves with these comedies, which reflect little honor on Prance. Nevertheless, let me tell you that, when we please, 'we can make of the duel something very different; that is to say, an affair of life and death.” “Without doubt,” I answered, tossing aside my own copy of the Matin—we were in the smoking room of the Cercle des Strangers—“but your press should not give such importance to these farces.” The ambassador brushed this observation aside with a wave of his hand. “It is the too great facility with which these affairs are arranged that has involved them In ridicule,” he said, pursuing his own line of thought. “It is when a crime has been committed which is truly worthy of death, and yet which, from its nature, is beyond the reach of laws, that the duel becomes a sacred resource, indispensable in the interests of mankind.” “And are there such occasions, then?” I responded, in order to see what was in his excellency’s mind. "I have at all events known of one,” he returned gravely, as he began to roll a cigarette. “I cannot recall the exact date at which I was accredited to the court of St. James’, but it must have been at least twenty-five years ago. I had come to Great Britain with a sincere desire to win the confidence of the brave English people; and knowing that in your country even politics receives IeBS consideration than what you call ‘sport,’ I resolved to prove myself a huntsman. Accordingly I bought myself horses and went out to hunt the fox. “The hunt of which I became a member was at that time the most aristocratic in the world, made so by the patronage of an illustrious personage whose name I shall not mention. Her Imperial majesty had formed the habit of coming oyer to England during the season of the chase, under a strict incognito, and attended by only a small suite, in order to take part in this sport. It was in this way that I obtained the privilege of an acquaintance which I shall always look back upon as my most cherished remembrance. “Among the members of her majesty’s suite at this time .was a certain Baron Magratz, who filled the post of private secretary and comptroller of the household. You will understand, of course, that my intercourse with the empress was on the most respectful footing, but it was not long before I discovered that this baron, of whom I saw a good deal, was a dangerous, insolent man, quite unworthy of the confidence reposed In him by his august mistress.

“So acutely did I realize this that it became a question with me whether the favor extended to me by thafe noble 'and unsuspicious lady did not cast upon me the obligation of warning her against this man’s presumption. Whife I was still in doubt an incident occurred which rendered it unnecessary for me to speak. "One morning, when we were engaged in waiting outside a small covert for the fox to appear, I observed Magr&tz ride up to the empress and point with his hand, as if persuading her that the beast was about to emerge from a point further on. She turned her horse, and they rode off together round a corner of the wood. Troubled by some vague presentiment of mischief, I at once gave rein to my horse and followed. -V : *1 got round the corner just in time to perceive what took place. The baron had stooped forward, with an air of undue confidence, and was apparently addressing some remark to the empresß when all at once I saw her majesty rein in her horse, lift up the riding whip she held in her hand and draw it swiftly across his faeer - “Magratz started with a violence which caused his horse to rear. What he would have done next I cannot say, but luckily at that moment he caught Sight of me. The empress had already turned, and she rode hack past me, the angry gleam in her eyes relaxing into a gracious smile as tire acknowledged my respectful salute. "The baron followed at a walk, and as he came up to me I observed on his face a narrow streak of red, crossing from the right ear to the month. “Stung, doubtless, by my indignant look, he checked hie horse and addressed me with bitter emphasis: • “*i congratulate yon M. l’Ambassadeur, on your good fortune.’ (The scoundrel spoke in French —no doubt for the sake of the double meaning.) ’You have seen how a member of a family which is six hundred years old is treated by one of these royalties. We others are not of the same clay, you perceive. A Magratz is no more to than the ground beneath their feet. But perhaps this chapter will £ave a sequel/ "1 disdained to make may answer.

and he passed on, with a wicked smile, and rode away out of sight. “The next day I heard that he had quitted England under the displeasure of the empress, and some years passed before I was again reminded of his exThe ambassador stopped and flicked his cigarette ash into the fireplace before us with much dexterity. “It was in that I next met with my baron.” His excellency checked himself abruptly and appeared to be overwhelmed with confusion at having allowed this name to escape him. I was careful to show - that I had not heard it "You met him, where did you say?" I asked languidly. “In the dominions of the emperor whose illustrious consort I have spoken of,” replied the ambassador, swiftly recovering himself. "I had just been appointed to the charge of our embassy in the imperial capital, and it was at a state ball given in honor of the crown prince’s birthday that I recognized Magratz again. “He was moving about among the guests with the assured manner of One who -held a recognized position at court.- He wore on his breast the cross of the order of St. Luke, the second order in the empire, and everyone appeared to treat him with marked distinction. But whet attracted my notice particularly was a young girl of extraordinary beauty, whom he was escorting through the ballroom, and who clung to his arm with a delicious shyness. You know that I am not easily moved by the sex; picture the fascination of this damsel, therefore, when I tell you that I had hard work to refrain from going up to the baron and soliciting an introduction. “While I was wondering who she could be, and how Magratz had contrived to regain the imperial favor, I observed a movement in the crowd through which the pair was straying. The bystanders fell back, and a young man suddenly came through, a young man with heavy features and bloodshot, rolling eyes, who was dressed in a rich uniform blazing with the stars of a dozen royal orders. It was the crown prince.

“The prince, whose leaden face flushed with pleasure on catching sight of the couple, greeted Magratz In a style of much intimacy, and eagerly took possession of his exquisite partner, whom he led off through the apartments out of my sight. "Magratz stood looking after them with an expression of dark and furtive satisfaction. Then he turned round, and for the first time caught my eye. He bowed with a polite, almost cordial air, rad advanced towards me. through the throng. “ ‘Permit me to welcome you to my country, M. l’Ambassadeur,’ he said, extending his hand, which I accepted with reluctance. ‘What little influence I may possess here, and especially with his imperial highness, is entirely at your service. I . trust you will allow me, within the next few days, the pleasure of paying my respects to. you at the embassy,’ “While' I murmured my formal acknowledgments I could hot take my eyeg off his face. It was doubtless an illusion, but I thought I could distinctly perceive a faint purple mark where I had seen the whip of toe empress descend. “M. de Magratz no doubt divined my thoughts, or rather they were conveyed to him without words, by that subtle process for which science has not yet invented a suitable name. He bit his lip and permitted himself an ill-bred remark: -

“ ’To a man of your excellency’s well-known discretion it would he an Impertinence to recommend silence with regard to certain incidents of the past’ “i bowed, bnt with coldness, and changed the subject by complimenting him on the beauty of the young girl wbose arm he had just relinquished. “ ‘Ah T that is my niece,’ he observed, with affected careleshness. ’She is an orphan whom I have brought up. The crown prince is good enough to Interest himself In her, but of course the difference in their ranks is too great for it to be ray mere than a passing fancy.’ “He pronounced these last words with a fatherly air which did not impose upon me. I even fancied I detected in them a veiled allusion to the circumstances of our last meeting “I turned on my heel, feeling strangely disturbed, and passed on through the rooms. The crown prince and his charming partner were nowhere to be seen.” '■ The ambassador paused. His cigarette was smoked out, and he proceeded to roll himself a fresh one. “Catching sight in the crowd of my Mend toe little Count Messana of toe Italian legation, I resolved to question him. The count is a most remarkable man. He is toe greatest repository of scandal in the whole of Europe, rad, as his tongue never spares man or woman, he is immensely popular rad goes everywhere.”

“I think I have heard of the count,” I remarked. “Was he not mixed up in that scandal in the Quirinal, in which Prince—“ The ambassador frowned sebukingly. “Yes, yes; we will apeak of that some other time. Do not let us distract ourselves now, I beg of you.” I excused myself for my Interruption, and his excellency went on: “From Messana I gathered enough Information to confirm my uneasiness. It appeared that Magratz, after being in disgrace for some years, had recently been allowed to present himself again at court. Fatal magnanimity! Unpardonable forgiveness! He had come up from his estates, bringing with him this niece, who had im- . mediately cast a spell over the crown, prince, a young man. unfortunately not without a reputation of a certain kind. Her uncle conducted himself in this affair with great prudence, so managing matters that his niece’s reputation was not compromised, -while the prince became every day .more desperately enamored; and all kinds of conjectures were afloat, as to what would be the ultimate issue of this strange situation. “Although I was still far from suspecting the real object which Magratz had in view, I could not help seeing in all this some machination which boded no good to the peace of the imperial house. I was hardly surprised, therefore, to receive on the following day a summons to a private conference with the empress herself.

and at once divined the subject on which she desired to consult me. "Her majesty received me in her own apartments, without anyone else being present, a mark of confidence which touched me profoundly. We had not met for six years, and I was distressed to perceive the change which had taken place-in this exalted lady. Her finely cut features bore the marks of suffering, and the exquisite gayety which had formerly distinguished her had become overcast. Doubtless the sad fate of her relative, the king of Bavaria, had done something to effect this alteration, hut the chief cause, I more than suspected, was the anxiety given to her by the conduct of her son. “It is needless for me to repeat to you the kind expressions which the empress was pleased to make use of on thus meeting me again. It was her first words on the subject of the crown prince which roused my alarm. “*I have hoped, M. l’Ambassadeur, that an old friend like yourself might be able to advise me with regard to my son,* she said, ‘and I look especially to you, because you alone are in the secret of the past history of M. de Magratz.’ “ I replied with fervor, ‘the only thing that can prevent my advising you is the confusion with which your condescension overwhelms me.’ “Her majesty heard me with a mournful smile. “‘You have heard, no doubt, of the prince's infatuation for this man’s niece 7 she proceeded.

“ T have, madam. I have even seen the young girl herself, who appeared to me to be quite Incapable of knowingly taking part in any/treacherous design.’ "*You may be right, but unfortunately she is under the control of a maw who has no such scruples. To come to what I was about to say, this entanglement is by’ far the most serious of any in which my son has been involved. Bo serious to it that the emperor rad myself live in actual dread of hearing that the prince has privately married this young woman. “I started, realizing at once the full consequences of such a situation. The crown prince was the only child of the imperial couple. By the well known family statutes of his house, his marriage with a lady not of royal blood would be legitimate only in a social sense. Politically it would be treated as a nullity, rad the offspring of the union would be incapable of succeeding to the throne. It to well known that the husband of on& of your late

queen’s daughters Is illegitimate in this sense. “But since such a marriage would, at the same time, have sufficient force to render any other alliance impossible, the consequence would be, in effect, that the line of the emperor Would become extinct In the next generation, and the crown would pass to some collateral branch of the imperial house. “Well might Magratz triumph in such a possibility. I could see only one thing to advise, and even now I do not see how I could have taken any different view. “ ’You must arrange a marriage for his imperial highness without delay,’ I said with firmness. ‘Let him be dispatched at once to some court where there is a princess of suitable age, and ordered not to return till the betrothal is an accomplished fact.* "Ah, how profound is the instinct of a woman! Her majesty immediate ly replied: “*But I dread the effect of a love less marriage on my son. I know too well—” The ambassador broke off short at this interesting point, and began coughing with violence. The cigarette smoke seemed to have got into his excellency’s throat. “But I weary you with this long conversation," he observed, as soon as the coughing had subsided. “Enough that this venerated personage placed entire confidence in me, “Within a week of our conversation

toe crown prince had set out for the capital of a small kingdom in the west of Europe, under stringent instructions to offer his hand to the monarch's daughter. "The manner in which he did so is well known. Harshly Ignoring the conventions of love-making, he bluntly approached this young princess in a ballroom, and, in bare words, asked her if she would become his wife. The girl, no doubt under equally strict compulsion, gave her assent, adding a profession of fidelity and submission. The crown prince Instantly turned away, and that was all that ever passed between them in the nature of courtship. ■ /v . "The next day the betrothal was officially announced to me by the,imperial chancellor, and the news speedily spread through the capital, where It created an immense sensation. It was immediately after this that I received the promised visit of Baron Magrats. “I had given orders that he was to be admitted; for .though I am, as you are aware, the least curious person in the world, my high regard'for the empress made me anxious to fathom the intentions of this villain. “He appeared to take his defeat with philosophy.

“T sincerely trust this marriage may end happily,’ he said, when I introduced the topic. ‘lt is, of course, absurd to suppose that there Is any attachment, at all events on the side of the crown prince. Unhappily, the preference his highness has shown for my niece has turned out to be more serious than I believed, and 1 am afraid the poor child has allowed herself to cherish nnreasonable ideas. I shall make it my business to obtain a husband for her, if possible, before the prince returns/ “I saw nothing to take hold of in this announcement. If true, it seemed that the baron waa taking the most prudent course, both in the interests of the imperial dynasty rad of his niece. I did not yet appreciate the subtlety of his combinations, far less did I foresee the terrible end.he had in view, and which you perhaps already perceive Y*I evaded this question. “Proceed, my dear ambassador. If you please,” I said. “Your story interests me greatly.” Hto excellency blew a wreath of smoke from hto lips rad complied with this request. "For a moment I thought of immolating myself on the altar of toe imperial bouse by offering myself as a match for the charming baroness. But

a secret attachment —of which I am forbidden to speak—restrained me. I allowed Magratz to depart; and before many days had passed I learned that he had found a husband for his unfortunate niece in the person of Count Schwartsenfeldt, an immensely wealthy nobleman of fifty, but possessing no single attraction which could recommend him in the eyes of a young girL V' “The ceremony was hurried on, and Paula von Magrats became the bride of this ogre on the very day on which the crown prince returned to the capital. “I happened to meet the prince next day, and for the first time I was seized with a presentiment of the coming tragedy. If ever I read anguish and despair on a human face, I read it on that of this miserable young man. So violent was his grief that he openly threatened to put an end to his life, and his unhappy parents were reduced to the extremity of distress. “It was, of course, impossible that a scandal of such a kind should be long In reaching the ears of the bridegroom. Naturally alarmed and annoyed, Count Schwartzenfeldt left the capital with his wife. He carried her away to his estates, some hundreds of miles off. and buried her in one of those frightful feudal castles which this nobility continue to inhabit. “In the meantime the only resource which occurred to the troubled emperor and empress was to press forward the marriage already arranged for their son, in the hope that he might be distracted from dwelling on bis fatal passion for the young Countess Schwartzenfeldt. “I was present in the diplomatic gallery when the royal nuptials were celebrated in the national cathedral, before an Immense concourse of the nobility and citizens. It was the most melancholy pageant at which I have ever assisted. The demeanor of the wretched bridegroom created universal dismay. It was impossible to escape noticing the reluctance with which he uttered the responses, and the sullen coldness with which he gave his arm to the trembling bride. “Among the most interested spectators of it all, I caught sight of Magratz. I had but to glance from him to the pale face and drooping eyelids of the illustrious object of his hatred to see how far his scheme of vengeance had already succeeded.

“Some months passed before he made his next open move. He waited, with prudent calculation, for the crown prince to begin to feel the chafing of his new fetters. It was with alarm that I discovered he was beginning to renew his intimacy with the prince. “I had the opportunity once or twice of observing them together, and I noticed that his imperial highness, when with this man, shook off the listless apathy which had become his habitual mood, and listened with feverish interest to the baron’s conversation. It was not difficult to guess the subject of their discussions. "Finally, Magratz came one day to the embassy to take leave of me before departing on a visit to his niece at her husband's residence. There was an ill-suppressed ring of triumph in his voice, which warned me that he was on the eve of some new stroke. Perhaps even then, if I had comprehended the nature of his designs, I might have interfered. But as it was, I could do nothing except to express in delicate and guarded terms my hope that his visit would contribute to the peace and happiness of the Schwartzenfeldt household. “On rising to go he lifted the mask for one instant “‘I have been greatly distressed by the unfortunate result of this marriage of the crown prince’s,’ he said, 'and especially when I reflect on the grief it must cause to her majesty my late mistress.' "As he spoke I positively saw the faded scar of the whip leap into sight -upon his dark skin. I drew back, and clenched my teeth firmly to prevent myself from making the reply that rose to my lips. But you will realize the difficulty of my position. As the representative of a great government, I could not afford to enter into a quarrel with a private nobleman at the court to which I was accredited. “I suppressed my indignation, and allowed him to depart » on his fatal errand. The event which followed has become the property of the world.” His excellency turned his eyes upon me as If to ascertain whether I desired to hear more. I entreated him to complete the 'narrative. ”1116 European press” he observed, “always misinformed in these matters, put forth a thousand different explanations of what had taken place,-ail of them sufficiently incorrect. I will tell you the actual sequence of events as I learnt it soon afterwards from’the confession of Magratz himself. - “It appears, then, that this monster commenced by insinuating his sympathy with the poor young prince in his unhappy union. From that he passed to lamenting his own action in having given his niece’s hand to Count Schwartzenfeldt “Having excited the prince’s mind sufficiently by hints of this sort, he at length went on, with pretended reluctance, to depict the young countess as a victim of intolerable persecutions on the part of a jealous and tyrannical husband, and to bitterly accuse himself for being unable tp devise a means for her deliverance. *"lt is needless to say how the agitated lover received these tidings. His own sufferings he might have schooled himself to bear, but as soon as it became a question of the life-long wretchedness of the woman he loved non life all thoughts of - 7•. •.' s. . -w -

submission were thrown to the winds, In a frenzy of passion he swore to put an end to this state of things, and ins plored Magratz to assist him. “After some well-acted hesitation the tempter professed himself won over. He furnished the prince with the direction of a certain bunting lodge In an out-of-the-way corner of his own estates. "The prince was to travel secretly to the spot at a certain date, by which time the baron undertook that his niece should be there to meet him. Then the two lovers were to lie concealed until Magratz had succeeded la pacifying the outraged husband, and bringing about an accommodation with the emperor’s sanction. "This understanding arrived at, the worthy unde departed to the Schwartzenfeldt castle. The first part of the arrangement he carried out in the manner agreed upon. The lore of the poor young countess for the prince was no less intense than bis for her; her married life had not been happy, and, in fine, she was persuaded to accept the part assigned to her. She fled from her home with the baron’s secret assistance, and the lovers were speedily united. "Now Magrats proceeded to execute bis real design. He had stayed On at the castle after his niece’s flight, pacifying the furious count, not in the way he bad promised the crown prince, but by undertaking to discover the fugitive’s retreat. As soon as he knew that the pair had met, he boldly announced to Count Swartzenfeldt that he had received private Intelligence of his niece’s whereabouts, and offered to conduct the other to the spot. They set out together. "But it would not have suited the baron’s purpose to bring the rivals face to face. The crown prince’s high rank might have overawed the husband, and the whole affair have been hushed up. He therefore sent on a secret warning to bis victim, managing so that it should reach him too late to afford any chance of escape. In this warning he pretended to the prince that the elopement wits known publicly, and that the count was coming to take signal vengeance on both. "The resolution thereupon taken by the unhappy lovers is a matter of history. When the deceived Count and his conductor entered the lodge, they found the two young people lying dead in each others’ arms.”

The ambassador again interrupted himself, under the pretense of loosening bis cravat. He went on presently, in a firm voice: "When all was over the author of this dreadful catastrophe had the assurance to return to the capital, and to pose as the disconsolate and# whose efforts to save his niece from the consequences of a fatal passion had unhappily miscarried. "Two persons knew or suspected something of the truth. One was the stricken empress, who sat in her palace, tearless, beside the corpse of her only son. The other was myself. “I do not doubt that this man had been tortured in his wicked heart all these years by the recollection that I had been a witness of his well-merited chastisement. The moment he had, as he conceived, wiped out the stain In blood, he came to me to boast openly of what he had done. "It may be that long brooding on his vengeance had so warped his mind that he could not realize in what light his conduct would present itself to another. - “When I sat and heard this terrible creature unrolling the awful story of his crimes, in the perfect confidence that he was beyond the reach of human justice, and then thought of that imperial mother whose life had been rendered desolate for ever, I realized that there are occasions when the duel becomes the most holy of sacraments.” The ambassador closed his lips, and leaned back in his seat with the air of one who had no more to say. I waited a few moments to see whether he was going to resume of his own accord. Then I inquired: "And what did you do then?” His excellency transfixed me with a gaze of fine scorn. "Ask yourself, as a man of honor, what I could do. I waited merely till that carrion was gone, to telegraph to Paris for a week’s leave of absence. It was granted. I crossed the frontier as his excellency the French ambassador, and returned the next morning as plain M. le Baron. Then I sought out Magratz. "I found him in a club to which we both belonged. I offered him a game of piquet, and he accepted with a smile, and at the first card he played I said: " ‘Monsieur, you cheated. 1 saw yon mark that queen.’ "That was all. You see, there was no scandal. There could be no suspicion of any other cause for our qaarrei.” “And the result ?” A faint flush came on his exeellency’s face. "Our encounter was not prolonged. Within ten seconds after our swords had crossed I had passed my blade through his heart—and I have neves wiped off the blood to this day.” (Copyrighted in U. 8. and Ore** Britain.)

The Prince Greeted Magratz in a Style of Much Intimacy and Eagerly Took Possession of His Exquisite Partner.