But she was, I found, an extremely discreet and clever little person, a fact which further increased the mystery.
One night about two months later I had an appointment with Max Reinhardt at the Deutsches Theater, in Berlin, to arrange a Royal visit there, and after the performance I went back to the Palace, prior to retiring to my rooms in the Krausenstrasse. The guards saluted as I crossed the dark courtyard, and having passed through the corridors to the private apartments I entered with my key the Crown-Prince's locked study.
To my surprise, I found "Willie" seated there with the Emperor in earnest discussion.
With apology, I bowed instantly and withdrew, whereupon the Kaiser exclaimed:
"Come in, Heltzendorff. I want you."
Then he cast a quick, mysterious glance at the young man, who had thrown himself in lazy attitude into a long cane lounge chair. It was as though His Majesty was hesitating to speak with me, or asking his son's permission to do so.
"Tell me, Heltzendorff," exclaimed His Majesty suddenly, "do you know this person?" and he placed before my astonished gaze a very artistic cabinet photograph of the pretty Elise.
"Yes," I answered frankly, quite taken aback. "It is Fräulein Breitenbach."
"And what do you know of her?" inquired His Majesty sharply. "You introduced her and her mother to Court, I believe."
I saw that the Emperor had discovered something which annoyed him. What could it be?