Several days after his sight of the Emperor, Edestone, in passing through the halls of the Embassy, was approached by one of the German servants, who in a rather mysterious manner handed him a note, which read as follows:
“Dear Mr. Edestone: Please have Mr. Stuyvesant bring you to tea
on Tuesday afternoon. It is a matter of the greatest importance.
I must see you.
“PRINCESS WILHELMINA.”
He knew that Princess Wilhelmina was in Berlin. Lawrence had seen her at the house of Princess Adolph, and in his joking way had said that she had inquired very particularly after the American inventor, and that Count von Hemelstein, who thought he was the “candy kid,” was very jealous.
But why had she sent for him? he thought. When he spoke to Lawrence, he in his usual jocular manner exclaimed: “Ah, so now you are to have Kaffee Klatsch with the Princess. I told you so. The lady is in love with you, and the Emperor is going to offer you her hand in marriage after he has bestowed on you an Iron Cross in return for one of your quack medicines.”
Edestone, who declined to take any notice of this, thoughtfully said: “Can it be possible that she also is a traitor? She cannot imagine for one moment that she will be able to accomplish what her father was unable to do, but God gives women confidence in themselves to compensate them for the fact that nobody else has.” With an impatient gesture, “No, no, Lawrence, that is impossible! That sweet little child!”
“Ah!” said Lawrence, “so little Willie Westinghouse has fallen for the baby stare?”
“You are absurd, Lawrence,” said Edestone with a rather embarrassed expression. “It is perfectly clear. She feels deeply her father’s disgrace, and perhaps she thinks that I might do something to help her to exonerate him.”
“Well,” said Lawrence, “I don’t think there is any satisfaction in being a hero in Berlin while being locked up in the Tower in London like her father, but you are the limit. You talk as quietly of using your influence for a Prince of the Royal Blood with the King of England as if she were asking you to get her brother a position on the New York police force. God certainly gave you confidence in yourself.”
“There is nothing very strange about that,” replied Edestone. “As I understand it, the only thing that they have against the Duke of Windthorst is that he was dining with Rebener and myself, and were I to state that at no time during the dinner had he shown any disloyalty to his King and country, it might do a little good. But whatever it is, we will go and see this afternoon.”
About half-past five they were driven to the handsome residence occupied by Princess Adolph when in Berlin.