"Very young, very young." He stared at me again and after a pause
said:

"Yet the reports about your work are satisfactory and show discretion
and intelligence above your years."

I bowed in acknowledgment.

"You will from now on," he said, "become attached to this section of
the Service. You will be trusted with some very grave and important
matters. You will receive your orders and instructions only from me.
You will report only to me direct. On no account will you see any
subordinate or any person, no matter what his official status, without
my expressed permission. Verstehen sie?"

"Yes, sir."

"For funds," he continued, "you will apply to my secretary. Of your
expenses you will furnish a monthly account. How soon can you be
ready to go on a mission?"

I told him in two hours.

"Good!" he exclaimed, "the sooner the better. This is what I want you
to do. You will go at once to Constantinople and find out which of
the court officials are in French and Russian pay. You will find out
the favorites of the high officials and officers, especially the
nationality of these women. I will not give you any points of
introductions. They might lead you to be suspected. They are a