When I came before Wilhelm II. he was not in the Hall of the Hohenzollerns, indulging his vein of extravagant romance, but in his private cabinet and in his most stern and business-like mood.
“Give the prisoner a chair, and wait outside,” his majesty commanded briefly.
I sat down, still handcuffed, and the guards withdrew.
“Now,” said the Kaiser, fixing me with an eagle glance, “be good enough to explain your proceedings.”
I met his look with a steadfast one in return.
“I have carried out your majesty’s orders scrupulously. I have taken out the submarine torpedo boat, engaged a crew, proceeded to the Dogger Bank, and drawn the fire of the Baltic Fleet on the fishing-boats from Hull. I have not seen a newspaper since, but I assume that the British Navy has already arrested Admiral Rojestvensky and his squadron, and that the two Powers are at war.”
The Kaiser gnawed his moustache.
“Things have not gone quite so well as you pretend, M. Petrovitch.
“The Russian cannonade ceased after a few minutes,” the Emperor resumed. “You did not remain on the surface after the first shot; you did not launch your torpedo, neither did you permit the other submarine to do so. In fact you sunk her.”