The Dark Star
Page 16April 13. A secret interview with Enver Bey, who promises that
our ideas shall be carried out when his party comes into power.
Evidently he does not know that my duplicates have been stolen.
Troubles threaten in the Vilayet of Trebizond, where is an
American Mission. I fear that our emissaries and the emissaries of
Enver Bey are deliberately fomenting disorders because Americans
are not desired by our Government. Enver denies this; but it is
idle to believe anyone in this country.
April 16. Another interview with Enver Bey. His scheme is flatly
revolutionary, namely, the deposition of Abdul, a secret alliance,
offensive and defensive, with us; the Germanisation of the Turkish
army and navy; the fortification of the Gallipoli district
a final reckoning with Russia which is definitely to settle the
status of Albania and Serbia and leave the Balkan grouping to be
settled between Austria, Germany, and Turkey.
I spoke several times about India and Egypt, but he does not
desire to arouse England unless she interferes.
I spoke also of Abdul Hamid's secret and growing fear of Germany,
and his increasing inclination toward England once more.
No trace of my stolen plans. The originals are in the Yildiz
Palace. I have a third set secreted, about which nobody knows.
April 21. I have been summoned to the Yildiz Palace. It possibly
means my assassination. I have confided my box of data,
missionary in the Trebizond sanjak.
There are rumours that Abdul has become mentally unhinged through
dread of assassination. One of his own aides-de-camp, while being
granted an audience in the Yildiz, made a sudden and abrupt
movement to find his handkerchief; and Abdul Hamid whipped out a
pistol and shot him dead. This is authentic.
April 30. Back at Tchardak with my good missionary and his wife.
A strange interview with Abdul. There were twenty French clocks in
the room, all going and all striking at various intervals. The
walls were set with French mirrors.
Abdul's cordiality was terrifying; the full original set of my
me that the plans were in duplicate, and asked me where were these
duplicates. What duplicity! But I said pleasantly that they were
to be sent to General Staff Headquarters in Berlin.
He pretended to understand that this was contrary to the
agreement, and insisted that the plans should first be sent to him
for comparison. I merely referred him to his agreement with my
Government. But all the while we were talking I was absolutely
convinced that the stolen duplicates were at that moment in the
Yildiz Kiosque. Abdul must have known that I believed it. Yet we
both merely smiled our confidence in each other.