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The Secret of Crown Prince Rudolph’s Tragic Death Revealed at Last
Countess Marie Larisch, Niece of the Late Austrian
Empress Elizabeth, Tells the True Story of “The
Tragedy of Meyerling” in Which the Heir to the
Austrian Throne and the Beautiful Baroness Vetsera
Met Mysterious Deaths Together.
T HE Countess Marie Larisch, niece of the
murdered Empress Elizabeth of Aus
tria, has written an extraordinarily in
teresting volume entitled "My Past,” which
Is about to be published by G. P. Putnam’s
Sons, of New York, to whom we are indebted
for advance sheets.
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This story of court life from the inside has
all the grip of a great novel.
The Countess was the granddaughter of the
Impress's brother, Duke Louis, of Bavaria,
through a morganatic marriage. In her early
youth she was a great favorite of the Empress,
’who arranged her marriage with the wealthy
Count George Larisch.
She fell Into disgrace with the Empress and
was banished from court after the terrible
tragedy which occurred at Meyerling, near
Vienna, on January 30, 1889. In this affair
the Empress’s only son, the Crown Prince Ru
dolph, and his sweetheart. Baroness Mary
Vetsera, perished mysteriously. The Empress
credited Countess Larisch with having
brought the pair together.
Many versions of the tragedy have been
published in Europe. Some accounts say that
,ie Crown Prince killed his sweetheart and
himself, others that he was killed by an in
furiated relative of the girl, and still others
that her fiance committed the act. The mys
tery has never been cleared up.
The Countess Marie Larisch here gives her
version of the tragedy and the events that led
up to it. After explaining how the Crown
Prince and the Baroness made her an un
willing agent of their rendezvous, she brings
us to the tragedy. The Crown Prince Induced
her to bring the Baroness to his private apart
ments in the Imperial Palace on the pretext
that he wished to break the liaison;
By the Countess Marie Larisch
fin Her New Book “My Past.” Copyright, 1913, by G. P. Putnam’s Sons.)
R UDOLPH led the way Into a cheerful
apartment, which looked as if it were
“lived in,” for there was an abundance
of illustrated papers, plenty of books and flow
ers, and a grand piano, which was strewn with
new music. A pair of spectacles was lying on
the writing-table, and 1 wondered why Ste
phanie (the Crown Princess) had left her
glasses there, since she and Rudolph were not
popularly supposed to be on visiting terms.
“Now,” said my cousin, in a most prosaic
lone, “I want to have this little interview alone
with Mary In the smoking room. Will you
permit this, Marie?”
T was powerless lo interfere, and walked over
to thp windows to see If 1 could discover In what
part of the Burg X was. To my surprise X saw
that the windows looked out over the Amalien-
iiof, and that immediately opposite me were the
Empress’s apartments, which I knew so well.
1 could see the big clock; and I heard the rum
ble of the carriages which passed and repassed
through the courtyard below.
I watched the busy scene for a little time,
then glanced at the clock—the ten minutes had
already passed,
1 went to the mirror and smoothed my hair,
which had been disarranged by the raven’s sud
den swoop, and as 1 did so I heard the sound
of military music. It was the hour for changing
Ihe guard. The room was unpleasantly warm,
and 1 took off my jacket, but hardly had I done
so wheD my cousin entered. He teas alone.
I stared at Rudolph In dismay, and could only
stammer, “Where’s Mary?’
He smiled, hut took no notice of my question,
and then proceeded to lock all the doors in the
"Rneak to me,” T cried; “for goodness sake
tell me what has happened. Rudolph, explain
' T'was so terrified that 1 could hardly stand
The blood rushed to my head; I swayed and
trembled, and tie room swam before «
The Crown Prince took my Imnd. There *
nothing to explain.” be said.
••Mary! Mary! where is she? Oh, do ten
me what you have done with her
"Calm yourself, Marie, and listen to me.
Now don’t interrupt. You will have to return
" The'sounds'of the gay music outside rose and
fell as we were speaking, and I never hear a
military band without recalling that awful mo
ment. 1 turned siek with fear. You are jok-
, y 0r , don't know what you are saying; you
cankot surely mean to tell me .hat you Intend
to keep Mary here?”
“Never mind where 1 intend to keep Mary,
all you have to do is to go home at once.
His callous indifference infuriated me— I will
not go home without her.” „
"You must. Mary is not m the Bing.
The shock almost paralyzed me. Then I came
in mvself My cousin continued: Nothing
will happen if you will keep quiet. Go hack to
,he Baroness and say that Mary has run away
"Oh. you coward, Rudolph. 1 wont. Ill go
direct to the Empress.”
•You cannot pass through locked doors.
1 rushed to the window, tried to throw it open,
and shouted for help.
The Prince violently put his hand over my
mouth aud dragged me back. “Do you want me
to hurt you?” he asked with dreadful meaning
'"“Oh V you dishonorable man,” I panted, “you
ar.lort.to all shame. I won’t be alient l w
tell the Empress, let me go you
• * * you shall.'' „
“Unless' you swear to he quiet I’ll kill you
hissed Rudolph. He released my wrists, which
he held as In a vise, and .without another wold
oneued a drawer in his writing table and
look 'fVon, it a little black revolver. He came
l,> where I stood.
“Do you want me to shoot you?” He caught
me by the throat and pressed the weapon
against my forehead.
“Yes, shoot me,” I answered miserably. It
would be a kind thing to do now that you have
ruined my life." ,
The Crown Prince put down the revolvei. and
looked at me. "At any rate, you have some
rourage.” be observed.
“I can be brave when I have to face devils
lik« you,” I cried. “For you are nothing but a
ievll You brought me here under a solemn
promise to deal with me in an honorable way;
you do not know the meaning of the word. Yes.
t repeat it, you do not know the meaning of
honor.”
The Crown Prince glanced at me with mingled
ruelty and cynicism. “Since when, may I ask.
have you been considered fit to play the
You are a fine one to talk of honor or
loymty. You have been the go-bolwoen for my
mother since you were a girl. And yet you dare
to mention morality to me, when you have not
scrupled to stand by and see my father de
le ived. ’
"It is a monstrous lie. I'll not listen — you
Marie,
saint!
loyalty.
shall f not traduce your mother. I love her."
Then I burst into tears, and cried as If my
heart would break. Whereupon Rudolph said
very quietly.
“Marie, do you really love mamma? Well, if
you do, save her from the shame which a
scandal will cause her."
To my great surprise, he led me over to the
couch and sat down beside me.
“Give me oue last chance.” he pleaded.
“Well, I can but hear what you wish me
to dtf.”
“'I want you to go back to your fiacre, and
tell the man to drive you to some shop where
you are well known as a customer. Once you
are inside send an assistant out to the fiacre
with a message from you to the Baroness Mary
Vetsera. Naturally, he will return, and say
the Baroness is not there. You will thus be
able td produce a witness to testify that you
thought she was.”
“But the coachman will know that I came
out of the Burg alone.”
Tlie Crown Prince opened a leather wallet and
took from it a roll of notes. “Here's five hun
dred florins,” be said; “give them to the coach
man with the message that I sent them, and
that if any trouble arises he must go to Brat-
fisch, who will tell him what to do.”
“And I am (o tell her mother that Mary ran
away when I was inside the shop?”
“Yes,” replied Rudolph, “it will serve for two
days, and then I shall see her myself.”
“You will not find her difficult to persuade,” I
said, and I repeated the conversation which I
bail had with Madame Vetsera.
The Crown Prince laughed. “What an ac
commodating mother Mary possesses,” lie ob
served. “Now, Marie, you must go * * *
Will you have some wine? * * * My poor
cousin, you look a complete wreck.”
L refused the wine. 1 was still crying, but I
longed to be gone, r was in a dreadful state
of nervous Exhaustion, and my faculties were
completely numbed; my one wish was to get
away.
Rudolph suddenly look my hand. •‘‘Don't let
us part in anger. Marie.” he entreated. “Oh, if
you only knew how unhappy 1 am. * * *
Perhaps it;
come all right
j ci ua|M ii tviii t unit; an
day. Promise me you will be true to your Irust.”
“I promise,” I answered in a stifled voice.
The Crown Prince drew me to him, and took
me In his arms. Then lie kissed me for the first
and lust time.
• * *
(The Countess spent the day consoling the
\visei'ii family and the next day went away
to her country seat. The morning afterward
she was astounded to learn from the papers
(fiat tholCrowii Prince had died at Meyer-
ling. She returned to Vienna and immedi
ately received a visit from the Empress’s
physician, who told her that the Baroness
Vetsera was dead also.)
My eye met the calm gaze of my old friend
and physician, Dr. Wiederhofer. He pressed my
hand reassuringly. “Culm yourself, dear Coun
tess,” iie said, “for you must listen attentively to
what I have to say. I am sent here by the
Empress."
"Does Aunt Cissi wish to see me?” T asked.
“No, she wishes you to answer a question.
What do you know about this affair?”
"I know nothing. I'm nearly dead with
. anxiety. For pity’s sake tell me something.
“You are certain that you are speaking the
truth.”
"1 swear it.”
“Then, my poor friend * * * prepare your
self. ♦ * * Mary is dead.”
“Oh. my God!” I cried. “How did she die?”
“With the Crown Prince. Countess * * *
a little fortitude * * * you are shaking like
a leaf. * * * So—(hat’s better. Yes, they
are both dead; and the Empress thinks it is
owing to you. 1 pity you. my poor*child, for
you are iu a dreadful predicament,” said the
doctor, and his voice faltered as he spoke.
“But lam innocent,” I cried.
“Everything is known at the Burg,” he said
gravely. “The secret police have discovered
that you were in Rudolph’s confidence, and that
you took Mary Vetsera to the Hofburg. The
man who drove you there has confessed all.
But. I beseech you, tell me what the Empress
chiefly wishes to know. Was the Crown Prince
perfectly normal at your last interview?”
I nerved myself to reply. “No. he was not.”
Then my pent-up misery burst forth. "You say
they know all at the Burg. Do .the Emperor
and Empress realize that I have been treated
shamefully? 1 have been the eat's paw in this
affair. T’vo been deceived throughout. * * *
I'll see (he Empress. I won't be condemned tin
Justly.” My voice rose to a scream and died
away in convulsive sobbing.
Dr. Wiederhofer let me cry for some moments.
“Courage, courage, dear Counted; I am con
vinced that you have spoken the truth. I had
better tell you all that has happened. But it Is
a dreadful story.
"The Crown Prince wrote to Daxenburg, It
said the doctor, “and told his wife he
„„s going for 1hree days’ shooting to Meyerling,
but that he would return for the family dinner
on January 30th. There was consequently no
appen
wa
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<ls> *
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Photograph of the Countess Larisch
(on the Left) with the Bar6ness
Vetsera (on the Right), Taken
Three Days Before the Latter’s
Death.
anxiety felt about his movemenls. and the
Prince left Vienna two hours after Mary Vet.
sera, who was driven to the shooting lodge by
Bratflscli. The unhappy girl went in unnoticed
by the private entrance, and i.oschek took her
to the little dresslng-rom In the apartments
which the Crown Prince occupied. She re
mained that day and night, alone with her
lover, and on the 29th some of Rudolph's friends
came for the shooting.” '
"Was Philip of Coburg among them?”
“He was. Philip,” continued Dr. Wiederhofer,
“knew tha’ a woman was at Meyerling (it was
no rare event), because on such occasions Ru
dolph never sat long at dinner. The Crown
Prince, who pleaded a had cold, did not go out
with the guns, and that evening he sat at table
with his throat muffled in a silk handkerchief.
'“Supper was served to (he Prince and Mary
in their apartments, and I.oschek received in
structions to awaken his master at 7 o'clock
thd next morning.
"Downstairs a drunken orgy prevailed, but
those two sinful souls spent their last night
undisturbed.”
“Oh. for pity’s sake be brief, I Cannot bear
it!” I sobbed.
“You must hear everything,” replied my
friend. “Loschek came to waken his master at
seven o’clock, and the Crown Prince told him to
returnnn half an hour. He did so, but as there
was no answer to his repeated knocking, he be
came alarmed and sent for Count Hoyos, who
was at breakfast.”
“And • » * what happened?”
“They broke open the door, and I hope thev
may never see such a sight again. There was
blood everywhere. It stained the pillows. It
bespattered the walls, and It had flowed In a
sluggish stream from the bed to the floor, where
i! had made a horrible pool. Rudolph lay on his
side, his hand still holding the revolver, and
Ihe top of his head was almost completely
shattered.”
”1 cannot listen * * • ”
“Countess * * * it is imperative that you
should hear all. The bed bulged a little and
Count Hoyos lifted the coverings. Mary Vet
sera lay under them—dead; she, too, had been
shot in the head."
“Oh, Mary, Hary! Poor Mary!” I cried in
agony.
“Count Hoyos told I.oschek to take the body
of the girl into another room, and to lock all the
doors of the death chamber. The Count then
went downstairs and informed tlie shooters that
the Crown Prince had been suddenly taken ill,
and that he must leave for Vienna at once to
acquaint the Emperor, and 1o bring a doctor
back to Meyerling. He despatched a telegram
to me. and I arrived at (lie Ilofburg almost at
the same time as lie did.
“IVe saw the Empress first; she had just
finished her gymnastics. * * * It was dread
ful in find her so unprepared. I cannot toll you
how we broke the news to her. * * * ”
“Oh, my poor, poor aunt!”
‘‘The Empress seemed like a woman suddenly
turned to stone. She slied no lears; all she said
was, ’How can we toll the Emperor?’ ”
”1 found strength to say, ‘You must tell liim.
Your Majesty—you alone can.’ Tlie Empress
stared at me almost without comprehension.
Then she started, and shivered a llltie. ‘Well,
let us go,' sin- said.
,"We walked with tlie Empress to the Emper
or’s apartments, and waited outside. I do not.
know what passed between Ihe bereaved parents,
but when we were called in Franeis-Joseph sat
by Ihe (able wilh his face hidden in liis bands,
and the Empress stood beside him.
“I received my order lo go to Meyerling at
once. Count Hoyos gave me the key of Ihe
room on my arrival.”
“What or tlie Empress?"
"When tlie Empress came hack Madame Fe-
renzy told her that the Baroness Vetsera begged
for an audience. The Baroness insisted that
the Crown Prince had abducted her daughter
and implored tlie Empress to help her.
“Elizabeth hesitated, and then told Madame
Ferenzythat she would receive Mmlame Vetsera.
The Empress stood in the middle of the ante
room: her whole aspect was terrible in its un
natural calm, and the Baroness was brought
into her presence. The two mothers looked at
each other in silence; then MaiLame Vetsera
fell on her knees with a despairing cry, ‘Mary—
my daughter ’ • •
“Elizabeth shrank back from the poor
woman's outstretched arms. She examined her
with pitiless curiosity, and then said coldly and
cruelly: 'C'cst trap turd. Us sont marts tails las
deux.’
“Madame Vetsera fainted. The Empress
looked nt her unmoved, and walked away with
out a word.”
I had listened to this terrible narration wilh
indescribable emotions. I knew that my fate
was sealed with regard to Aunt Cisai; she would
never listen to any explanations of mine. I
asked the doctor to continue his story, hardly
knowing whether I should have strength to lis
ten to it. JJHS
Wiederhofer went on to say that lie had gone
to Meyerling. and was taken immediately to the
apartments occupied by the Crown Prince. Here
he found everything much ns Count Hoyos had
described. The remains of slipper were still
on the table In the little salon; there were
some empty champagne bottles, and one chair
had been overturned.
A decanter half full of brandy lay on the car
pet near the bed. and Wiederhofer ordered it to
be removed to prevent the Emperor from seeing
it. He then temporarily bandaged the shattered
ft
1
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The Favorite Photograph of the Baroness Vetsera. The German Words Be
low, Meaning “True Till Death,” Were Written on the Photograph She Gave to
Countess Larisch.
head and washed the face and neck of the
Crown Prince. With the aid of Roschek he cov
ered up the bloodstained bed, and made the
body somewhat presentable; all else was left un
touched to await the arrival of the Emperor.
“And now.” Nairl Losebek to Dr. Wiederhofer,
“now you must see the woman.” He preceded
the doctor, and led the way down a corridor; lie
opened a door, and Wiederhofer found himself
in a small room which was lit by a skylight. It
was very difficult at first to distinguish the va
rious objects around him, but at last the doctor
saw a large linen basket. On the top of this was
a bat (rimmed with ostrich feathers, and the
floor was strewn with various articles of
woman's clothing.
Wiederhofer was well accustomed to horrible
sights in the exercise of Ills profession, “but,”
lie said, “for the first time in my career ( feit
faint when I.oschek threw aside the sheet which
covered tlie basket.
“There I saw the body. T told I.oschek that
it was too dark for me to examine the
corpse where it was lying, so he carried it into
Ihe adjoining room and placed it on the billiard
(able.
“Then I began my examination. I parted the
long hair away from the face, which was almost
completely hidden, and then .... Oh,
Countess! . . • . . then I recognized Mary
Vetsera—tlie girl I had known ever since she
was a child.”
The voice of the good doctor trembled with
emotion. "Poor child.” he said, “for she was
little more than a child!”
Mary was not so terribly disfigured as Ru
dolph; part of her face was badly wounded and
an eye had fallen out of its socket, but tlie unin
jured side preserved all its beauty and her ex
pression was almot peaceful.
Professor Wiederhofqj tore the lawn chemise
into strips for bandages; he then replaced tlie
eye and bandaged the head; he washed Mary’s
face, and after wrapping the poor dead girl in
r sheet he told Loschek to take her back to tlie
linen room.
The scene in the chamber of death after the
Emperor arrived nt Meyerling was agonizing.
Francis Joseph leaned against the wall and cried
ns if his heart would break; then he listened to
all that there was to tell, and afterward re
turned to Vienna for the last home-coming of
the Crown Prince.
• * •
Tlie uncles of the Baroness Vetsera were told
that the orders were that the corpse of the Bar
oness Mary was to be fully dressed and taken
to the carriage which was waiting. "And,” said
the policeman, “you are to support the body be
tween you in such n way as to make it appear
thill Ihe Baroness still lives.”
Then began the dreadful task of dressing the
dead. Mary’s hair was smoothed and pinned up
in on<* heavy twist, and the uncles, who loved
her tenderly, washed away the fresh stains on
the once beautiful faoe. Then a ghastly thing
occurred. Wiedorhofer’s lawn bandage broke.
. . But much endurance was mercifully
given (o the two gentlemen, and Count Stockau
bound up Ihe wound with his black silk cravat.
Mnry was dressed in her underlinen and cor
sets; her silk stockings and dainty boots were
put ou, and then came the pretty gown she had
' a
lit
worn on that disastrous day nt the Hofburg.
Her lint and veil were next placed on her head,
and the body was set in a chair until her
uncles could nerve themselves to wrap her in
her sealskin coat.
It must have been an awful experience for
those who assisted at this last toilette of Mary
Vetsera, for as her uncles were preparing to put
on the coat her head drooped heavily on her
breast and she could not, of course, be taken out
like that. ^
The police officer at once thought of «an ex
pedient, and he slipped a walking-slick down
the dead girl’s buck and bound her neck to the
stick with a iiaiidkerchief. Count Stockau and
Alexandre Baitazz! then put on the fur coat
and lifted the corpse off the chair.
The Iwo men supported their niece’s body be
tween llicm. and half carried it and half dragged
It out of Ihe room, along the dimly lit corridor
and down file principal staircase to the waiting
carriage.
The dead girl w r ns placed on the back sent,
and her uncles sat opposite. Count Stockau
told me that occasionally the Jolting threw Mary
almost upon them, and he said that her close
contact during tills sinister journey was almost
more than they could bear.
It was a cold, windy night; from time to time
the face of the moon was hidden by the flying
clouds, and as the frost quite obscured the win
dows, it was impossible to see In what dlreeflon
they were proceeding. At last the carriage
stopped before a dark iron-barred door, which
was immediately flung open, and two monks,
lanternr in hand, came forwnrd.
There was no occasion now to force the corpse
Into that horidble mockery of life. The monks
lifted Mary from the carriage and placed her
upon a stretcher; then, with a gesture, they
invited the gentlemeia to follow them.
The policeman Bhut the gates noiselessly, and
Count Stockau and ills brother-ln-liiw found
themselves inside a graveyard, where crosses
and monuments gleamed ghostlike from the
darkness as the sad cortege passed. This was
the burial-ground of the Cistercian Abbey of
Heiltgenkreuz, and here Mary Vetsera was to
find her last resting-place.
The monks entered a little building apparent
ly used for lumber, as it was littered with all
kinds of fragments of masonry, odd pieces of
wood and bricks. But a space had been cleared
where stood an open coffin of common white
wood.
There was no shroud in which to wrap the
dead, and the beautiful young body was some
what roughly placed inside the unllned burial-
chest. Boor Mary! If’hat an awful ending to a
life which had seemed so full of promise! Ru
dolph lay honored in state, but ills victim's only
requiem was sung by the mournful wind as It
sighed among (lie graves—better fnr to have
laid her uncoffined in the kindly earth than to
have pushed her Inside the rough box, which In
itself was an outrage on decency.
Count Stockau doubled Mary’s hat into a
pillow and rested tile sleeper's head upon it; he
I lien took off a gold cross which she wore round
her neck and placed the symbol of love and for
giveness between the stiff fingers.
Mary's parentage, but it nver concerned the
Emperor or any princes of the imperial house.
Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria, Who
Perished Mysteriously with the Baron
ess Vetsera at Meyerling.
These Illustrations are from “My Past,” by
Countess Marie Larisch. Copyright, 1913,
G. P. Putnam's Sons.
The monks thereupon put the lid on the
coffin and carried it out.
Close to the wall was an open grave. The
body was consigned to it without a religious
service of any description, and the earth was
shovelled in upon the dead with almost feverish
haste.
Mary Vetsera, whose only crime was love, was
burled like a dog. and her uncles who knelt by
the grave were allowed to pray for only a few
seconds beside If, for the policeman tapped
them on the shoulder and told them they must
not linger.
• • •
(The Countess tells a very romantic
story to the effect that Rudolph left a
steel box with her, to be delivered only to
a man who should give a certain signal.
She concludes that the box contained ,
papers showing that the Crown Prince and
her cousin, Archduke John, were engaged
in a conspiracy to put the Prince on the
throne of Hungary in the lifetime of his
father. The Countess has something to say
of the connection between this episode and
the tragedy in the following passage.)
The story which has found most credence
in circles which count is that Rudolph fell a
victim to Mary's uncle, who avenged his niece’s
dishonor. My narrative disproves this; the
last thing which the Baltazzis desired was any
kind of scandal, and the thought of murder
never entered their minds. The shattered con
dition of the Crown Prince’s head gave rise to
the rumor that it was smashed in by the butt
end of a gun, but the unimpeachable testimony
of Dr. Wiederhofer, who saw the body and
dressed the wounds, proves this to be untrue.
What actually happened during the time that
Mary and Rudolph were alone at Meyerling is
entirely a matter for conjecture. There is not
the slightest doubt that the Prince anticipated
a crisis of some sort, and it is unquestionable
that lie end the Archduke John had planned a
coup d'etat together. Something transpired to
make Rudolph afraid of the consequences
should his plans be discovered, and rightly or
wrongly he miscalculated the extent of his
father’s displeasure. He may have felt that
flight or a return to Vienna was equally im
possible, and, rendered desperate through fear,
inflamed by brandy, he made up his mind to
kill himself. In my opinion the worst that
could have happened to the Crown Prince, had
it been discovered he was plotting for the
throne of Hungary, would have been incarcera
tion “owing to unsound mind.” Count Andras-
sy said plainly that something beyond a love
drama was responsible for the tragedy; the
Archduke John corroborated this statement,
and the affair of the steel box makes me abso
lutely certain of it.
The world may well wonder why Rudolph,
the hetaapparent to the thrones of Austria and
Hungary, should have involved himself In the
schemes of men who were striving for the sep
aration of Hungary from Austria.
Was the Prince tired of waiting to he king,
and did some suhtie brain assume that the
Emperor, when the crisis came, would shrink
from the horror of a conflict with his son, and
that the independence of Hungary would he
achieved without the firing of a shot?
I cannot tell, and I doubt If the time w17!
ever come when Rudolph’s motives will be
revealed.
• • •
Far too much secrecy has hitherto been pre
served about the tragedy at Meyerling, and the
mystery arose becaus every one in authority
at first completely lost his head The proper
course would have been to tell the truth im
mediately about the death of the Crown Prince.
It would doubtless have been a ninety-nine
days’ wonder, but it would not have been ac
tively remembered. Rudolph never had a rep
utation for morality and little was expected of
him.
. . . ..