As they followed her from the room, the K.S. Chief hid a grin. He could guess what was going to happen now. She would take them to the cellar, unlock the door, and they would find it empty. Probably the bars of a small window in it would have been forced aside, and she would exclaim with pretended astonishment at the clever prisoner having got away again.
But she did not take them to the cellar. Instead, she led them to a door that opened into the largest room in the châlet. Outside it, she turned, and said with an excited laugh:
“I expect you are wondering why I am wearing my hair loose? But, as I told you, I am leaving Austria. I had it done that way this morning to symbolize my new freedom.” Then she opened the door and they followed her into the room.
In it were a dozen people: Sárolta and Marie Nopsca, both, like Ilona, in evening dress; Adam Grünne and an elderly man who was Ilona’s new equerry, both in full dress uniform; her secretary, her chaplain, her reader, nurses and servants. On a table at one end of the room a cold buffet was spread and in ice-buckets there were several magnums of champagne. All those present held a glass of wine in their hands. Near the table stood De Richleau, dressed in tails and a white tie.
Ilona led Count Zelltin and Major Ronge up to him. As her eyes met his. her nervousness disappeared. With her sweetest smile, she said to them:
“Gentlemen. Here is my prisoner. He came here because of his great love for me. And I love him so much that I could not bear to let him go. At half past two this afternoon I am taking him to Switzerland. I hope that you will join us in a glass of wine to wish us luck on our journey; and to console yourselves for the thought that in the four hours before we leave it would be quite impossible for you get a document from Vienna empowering you to stop us.”
She paused for a moment, laughed with the splendid gaiety of youth that has broken all the bonds of care, and cried:
“I need hardly remind you that no member of the Imperial family can be arrested without a signed order from the Emperor. And half an hour ago my chaplain enabled me to increase the family circle.”
Taking De Richleau’s arm, she added: “It is my pleasure, gentlemen, to present you to my husband.”
This book, designed by William B. Taylor is a production of Edito-Service S. A., Geneva
Printed in France Bound in Switzerland
* * *
[i]Note: Some accounts of these events in Sarajevo suggest that Franz Ferdinand entered the town about 10 a.m. and lunched at the Town Hall. I have preferred to follow the Rt. Hon. Winston S. Churchill, who states (Vol. 1, p. 51, The Great War. Illustrated edition. George Newnes 1933) “On the afternoon of June 28 the Archduke and his wife entered Sarajevo”, (my italics) D. W.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I - THE MAN IN THE TAXI
CHAPTER II - THE FIRST LORD INTERVENES
CHAPTER III - THE BLACK HAND
CHAPTER IV - THE BRIEFING OF A RELUCTANT SPY
CHAPTER V - ON A NIGHT IN MAY, 1914
CHAPTER VI - STORMY PASSAGE
CHAPTER VII - CITY OF DELIGHT
CHAPTER VIII - THE DARK ANGEL OF THE ARSENAL
CHAPTER IX - RURITANIA WITHOUT THE ROMANCE
CHAPTER X - THE DARK ANGEL OF THE FOREST
CHAPTER XI - THE WHITE GARDENIAS
CHAPTER XII – OF LOVE AND INTRIGUE
CHAPTER XIII – TWO MIDNIGHT INTERVIEWS
CHAPTER XIV – AN ILL TIMED HONOUR
CHAPTER XV - THE SECRET OF THE BLACK HAND
CHAPTER XVI - THE WINGS OF THE ANGEL OF DEATH
CHAPTER XVII - THE ANGEL OF DEATH STRIKES AGAIN
CHAPTER XVIII - THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
CHAPTER XIX - THE TRUTH WILL OUT
CHAPTER XX - THE ROAD TO THE ABYSS
CHAPTER XXI - AN EXTRAORDINARY SITUATION
CHAPTER XXII - WHICH ROAD HOME?
CHAPTER XXIII - THE ARMIES CLASH
CHAPTER XXIV - A VERY TIGHT CORNER
CHAPTER XXV - DEATH ON THE TRAIN
CHAPTER XXVI - THE FALSE SIR PELLINORE
CHAPTER XXVII - THE FORTIETH DAY
CHAPTER XXVIII - ACROSS THE RHINE
Dennis Wheatley - Duke de Richleau 07 Page 66
