‘You are too subtle, M. V----,’ he said coldly. ‘I have no doubt that
you know perfectly well that it is the young Archduke Karl whom the
Emperor has chosen to succeed him.’
I thought it better to be suspected of subtlety than nescience, and
apologised.
‘I ought not to have spoken. I beg your Excellency to continue.’
‘What I am going to ask you to do may sound rather extraordinary. I
want you to go to Vienna, see his Majesty, of course without letting
him know that you have been in communication with me, and tell him
that you suspect the Russian Government is playing him false. Then
persuade him to employ you to find out what is in the wind.’
I stared at M. Witte in some bewilderment. Then I answered
cautiously--
‘Do I understand you, sir, to propose that I am really to enter the
service of the Emperor? Or am I to be your agent in the business?’
‘I want you to do both,’ was the answer.
‘I am to deceive the Emperor, it appears?’ I said with rising
indignation.
‘Not in the least. You will accept his commission to ascertain the
secret intentions and purposes of the Government of Russia, and you
will execute that commission exactly as if you and I had never held
this conversation.’
‘M. Witte, I must beg you to be plain with me. I never consent to act
in the dark. What is your true motive in making this strange proposal
to me?’
‘I think I have already told you,’ the Minister returned with perfect
coolness. ‘The man whom I am combating is Count Lamsdorff.’
‘Your colleague?’
‘Exactly. My colleague, the War Minister.’
‘Let me see if I clearly understand your Excellency. The Emperor
of Austria has given the Tsar private notice of his intention to
abdicate? The Tsar has promised to preserve a friendly attitude?
Nevertheless, the war party in the ministry, with or without the
Tsar’s connivance, are secretly preparing to take advantage of
the situation in some way? Your Excellency, knowing this, and
disapproving of their plans, desires to put the Austrian Emperor on
his guard, in order that the scheme may miscarry?’