Rescuing the Czar | Page 7

the Iron
Mask' brushed off the map."
"Here is something singular about Berlin. Your man walks through the
lines like a wraith--"
"Not always. As you get into his stuff you'll hear things sizzle."
And thus the Imperial dead return to life through the pages of these
stolen diaries.
While the temptation is great to revise the manuscript, so as to make it
read more smoothly, it has been decided not to alter a line or letter.
Truth will be better served by publishing what is prudent, under the
complicated political circumstances of our times, word for word as it
was written by its daring author.

III
WHAT HAPPENED AT BERLIN
For certain persuasive reasons it is deemed prudent to omit that part of
the diary which details the writer's experiences in England, Belgium
and Holland. Those who recognize the incidents hereafter given will
appreciate this act of censorship. The discerning reader will gain all the
information necessary by following the "Invisible Diplomat" and
author from Berlin to the end of the diary.
The first entry reads:
"Today I called on Count R---- at Thiergartenstrasse 23 and handed
him the yellow packet. Then I went with him to the race track at

Hoppegarten.... On the way out R. inquired about the incident at
Buckingham and asked me if I were willing to continue the adventure....
I assured him that nothing would please me better, providing the lady
was good-looking.... He said that there were more than ONE lady as
well as a couple of men involved in the affair.... I replied that if there
were enough to go around and the men didn't become too meddlesome,
their presence wouldn't spoil the 'adventure.'... He assured me that the
men were 'fine fellows,' the ladies the loveliest on earth, but the
'adventure' was one that might mean decapitation for me if I failed in
the undertaking.... I told him that just suited me.... 'I expect to meet
Colonel Z---- S---- von T---- at the track. If he takes a liking to you he'll
invite you to Koenigergratzerstrasse for a quiet little talk,' Count R----
replied after I had climbed up on the box with him.... We had just
reached the old saddle paddock when a man saluted us in a very
knowing manner.... It was Colonel Z---- S----, who put some pointed
questions to me about my recent travels and my knowledge of Oriental
languages.... Before returning to the hotel tonight the Colonel asked me
to call on him tomorrow.... I feel that his request amounts to a positive
command.... I shall call early in the morning...."
4. On the same page the following entry was made:
"There were guards everywhere when I called at K-70. Even the
doorkeeper was a non-com, who took my name, entered it in a book
with the precise time I called, took down his telephone, merely
mentioned my name, hung up the receiver, called an orderly who
conducted me through a corridor and three anterooms full of civilian
clerks and finally landed me in the private office of Colonel Z---- S----.
He wore the undress uniform of the Imperial Army, greeted me
pleasantly, offered me a cigar and tactfully asked: 'Have you positively
made up your mind to continue in this service?'
"I wanted to know a little more fully what was required of me before
answering; but he did not say. He insisted, rather, on my answering his
question FIRST.... To be perfectly frank I was not anxious to commit
myself unreservedly without knowing ALL he expected of me, but it
sounded cowardly ... so with a mental reservation I finally said: 'You

don't look like a man who would ask another to commit suicide. Go
ahead! I've decided to take a chance.'... Colonel Z---- S---- looked me
straight in the eye and said: 'We expect you to use the same tactics that
are used against you. We can't be squeamish.... The interests at stake
are too sacred to allow personal considerations to affect your conduct....
You will be required to undertake a journey in the capacity of a guide....
How you make it will be left entirely to yourself ... but we expect
results.... Every resource will be placed at your disposal, but if YOU
get into trouble you'll have to get yourself out without calling on us for
help.... We must not be known in the matter. And understand this--the
assignment is dangerous from start to finish; no official help can be
given you under ANY circumstances.'... To get a line on things I asked,
casually, what my compensation would be.... He replied: 'You will be
allowed a regular retainer fee, an allowance for daily expenses and a
bonus sufficiently attractive to make the undertaking worth while, as
you should know.' I thought a