Remember, nothing about Bertha-and-nothing-to-eat to Her Ladyship.—The Herr Superintendent’s very humble servant,
*THE ENTANGLING OF ARCHDUKE FRANZ FERDINAND
Discussing the Archduke—"Intoxicate with Promises"—A Look at the Map—The War Lord’s Miscalculation
"What do you think of number one?" asked the War Lord, when the door had closed upon Bertha at the old Chancellor’s Palace.
The diplomat performing the duties of deputy-head of the Empire is tall, inclined to corpulence, grey moustached and bright eyed. He knocked his heels together like a recruit trembling before the drill-ground bully. "Majesty refers to Fraulein Krupp?"
"She has the benefit of Majesty’s personal guidance—there’s no more to be said," declared von Bülow, with conviction. "But who may number two be?"
"Not quite the figurehead of number one. I refer to the gentleman coming to see you."
"The Archduke? I was going to beg your Majesty for instructions concerning His Imperial Highness."
"Plain Franz Este, if you please; his incognito must be taken very literally."
"He is number two," emphasised Wilhelm; and while pretending to look out of the window replaced his left hand, which had slipped, upon the hilt of his sword. Then, fully accoutred, he resumed: "Number one furnishes my arms—
"And those of the world," put in the Chancellor.
"That’s where you and _all_ of you are mistaken. _My_ gun works arming _my_ enemies? As intimated, number one helps to _dis_arm my enemies."
When he saw blank amazement on the Chancellor’s countenance, he added: "Don’t ask how, for in this case purpose sanctifies the means. Number one, then, is my right arm, while number two I intend to make one of my men-at-arms."
"I am all ears, Your Majesty," said von Bülow.
"Well, then, bear this in mind: Franz Ferdinand has to be indulged despite his marriage to the little school marm. He is a fool, of course. Well, the Chotek being an encumbrance to Franz Ferdinand, we must make her into a quarry for our own good. What do you think?"
"I am afraid I lack capacity to follow the trend of Your Majesty’s grand ideas this morning," replied the Chancellor, remembering that he had been chosen, not to think, but to carry out orders.
"Well, as you know, I persuaded Francis Joseph to wink at the Chotek indiscretion. The decree elevating the ex-governess, and making her brats of princely estate, ought to have been dated from Berlin instead of Ischl, for it was I who placed that plum in Her Ladyship’s pie, the Olympian Emperor notwithstanding. Hence Prince Hohenberg—for Franz Ferdinand is more or less his wife’s husband—is beholden to me for such recognition as his marriage received, and Sophie will not let him forget it either. Accordingly, I call him ’number two’ in my combination."