Linnartz to a friend in Berlin.
"October 3rd.
"Dear Eberhard,
"It is with a heavy heart that I take up my pen today, for I have a
piece of news to tell, which, in the interests of the country, I
should be delighted for any one to prove false. Unfortunately,
everything which I am now going to disclose is authentic, I have
incontestable proof. It is only after having made every possible
excuse and looked at the matter in a purely objective way, that I
have made up my mind to send in a complaint against a chief whom I
personally respect and honour.
"I am sorry, indeed, to have to thrust upon you the uncongenial
office of being clerk of the court in this matter. But I see no
other way out. As far as I know, you are the only one of my friends
I can trust in such a delicate affair, and the only one who is
closely associated with the foreign secretary. I shall be as concise
as possible.
"Contrary to all expectations, the chief seemed during the last
couple of years to have settled down to a quiet and orderly life--of
course I may flatter myself that this has been due in large measure
to my own example and precept. But since June he has again succumbed
to one of his degrading and perilous love-affairs. Last summer a
lady suddenly arrived in these parts, Diana de Wassilko by name
(though I can find no mention of this 'aristocratic' family in the
Almanach de Gotha). Short hair, rides, swims, and has other
accomplishments; well-trained in social amenities and able to impose
herself. I saw her some years ago in very dubious company in St.
Petersburg--from afar, of course, for even in my bachelor days I
avoided the company of such women.
"She came with an introduction from the newspaper magnate Scherer,
and in a very short time had completely captivated the chief. Soon
it was common talk that she had become his mistress, that he had
taken a house for her, servants, horses, etc. He goes every day to
see her, usually once, sometimes twice, rides over or takes boat.
Spends half the day in her company, often stays on through the night.
"If such demoralizing behaviour, such neglect of duty, affected
himself only, the whole thing would have to be fought out between him
and his wife, the unhappy Countess Olivia. But matters are far more
serious. Not only is this person in a position to pass on to Scherer
all the information which the chief may divulge in moments of
weakness and of passion; she is now taking an active part in affairs
herself! On the very best authority I learn that recently by cunning
and craft she induced one of the secretaries of the foreign office
here to hand over copies of letters, among them one to the French
embassy which she entrusted to the chief. These papers, because they
proved beyond a doubt the friendly feeling existing between this
government and France (a friendship the chief has always been
sceptical about), have not been shown to me or to the other gentlemen
at the embassy, nor have they been placed in the archives. We have,
therefore, every indication of the formation of a State within the
State.
"Not until recently did the matter of the stolen information come to
the ears of the foreign minister here, although even now he has no
exact knowledge of the affair. He sounded the chief, and demanded
the expulsion of the culprit. Of course the chief played the
innocent as in duty bound. Not only did he say nothing about handing
over the culprit for the local authorities to deport if they deemed
it expedient; he actually went out of his way to shield her,
deploring that the suspicion of such an intrigue could have arisen in
connexion with a person who was not engaged in political activities
and who was neither competent nor willing to dabble in matters of the
kind. As the chief took up such an attitude it was impossible for
the minister to insist, but since then he has been telling all the
foreign representatives that the chief is 'conniving with a notorious
spy.' Le Chat and Sir Henry are naturally delighted, and are making
the best of their opportunities. When the minister tried to sound me
in the matter, I was evasive as duty demanded. But the conflict
between loyalty to my chief and loyalty to my country is so great
that I am no longer certain if I am serving the fatherland honourably
while shielding an erring official, even when that official is my own
official superior. To add to my difficulties, now that Eckersberg is
about to leave in order to take up his inheritance, I have no one at
the embassy to give me moral support. All these reasons have led me,
my dear Eberhard, to confide in you, and I beg you to follow your own
counsel as to whether you keep silence or whether you hand on the
intelligence to the most appropriate quarter.
"I wish you and your dear wife all the best the world has to offer.
Heartiest greetings from my household to yours.
"Your old friend,
"ERNST LINNARTZ."
Scherer to Diana.
"October 20th.
"The last dispatch I sent (it was smart of you to guess so promptly
whom I meant by 'Owl'!) will have shown you how matters are shaping
themselves in the duel between policehound and greyhound. The former
has chosen E. N. for his father confessor. E. N. being a notorious
gossip, the news leaked out within twenty-four hours after the
receipt of policehound's letter and became the talk of club-rooms and
editorial offices. That was only to be expected. But I was uneasy
when I found no mention at all of the matter in the government
organs, for this indicated that some big coup was about to be dealt,
and was not to be hampered in any way by ill-timed accusations, no
matter how savoury the morsel might be.
"In addition, the foreign secretary made no attempt to speak to me
when we shook hands at the opening of an exhibition here. But on
Tuesday I had a call on the phone. Would I go to see him? I allowed
two days to elapse.
"His reception was cordial, and the look of hostility from his owl's
eyes was balm to my heart, since it was cast upon myself! He laid
the 'original document' before me--of course it only consisted of
items from L's letter. I need hardly say that your name cropped up
as well. He was careful to stress the fact that he knew I had not
sent you out there in any official capacity; at the same time there
was undeniable proof of correspondence between you and myself. When
he saw that I did not demur, he came to the point. He requested
me--there was no challenge in his voice, he spoke in a friendly way
without rising--to recall you. I feigned astonishment. Then he got
up, pushed his left shoulder forward, leaned his head towards it--his
attitude had something akin to one I know so well in yourself--and
said:
"'You refuse?'
"'Have you any other complaint against my employees?'
"'Only against this one. You refuse?'
"I'm sorry, Sir.'
"'You feel bound...'
"'I cannot dismiss an employee who has carried out her duties
admirably, has sent most valuable reports, has established the best
of relations with those I wish to have good relations with--I cannot
dismiss such an employee merely on account of a denunciation, the
subject of which has not come to your ears through the proper
channels and whose object cannot be defended in any way.'
"'We know all there is to know.'
"'And what about the ambassador? Is he unaware of the denunciation?'
"'In all probability.'
"Does Your Excellency not intend to ask him directly?'
"'To ask him would mean to recall him.'
"'And His Majesty...?'
"'Knows nothing as yet.'
"'Has Count Münsterberg no friend who could let him know of the
accusation, so that he himself might demand an inquiry?'
"'I know of none--unless you yourself...'
"'I have not the honour to call myself his friend. Suppose I ask the
lady if she were willing....'
"'Would the lady be prepared to imperil her own position by
communicating things that were to her disadvantage?'
"'One can but try.'
"'You are willing?'
"I will send her an account of our conversation, without comment.'
"'That's very good of you, but your trouble will be vain.'
"'We'll see.'
"I have given you this exchange with much detail, so that you may be
in a position to decide whether you will undertake to tell the count
what is afoot against him, and if so how much you will disclose.
"For my part I would advise you against doing this, and am only
sending you this letter by a trustworthy messenger in order that you
may take your bearings. The count will of course want to exculpate
himself immediately, and might injure himself a great deal more by so
doing than if he kept silent. His position must be uncommonly
strong, seeing that none of his superiors ventures to denounce him.
"Business affairs by ordinary post. I can't get to that before
Sunday.
"Yours very truly,
"SCHERER."