Nevertheless, after the occupation of Bucharest copies and photographs of all my papers were found in Bratianu’s house.

After the loss of the dispatch-case I at once tendered my resignation in Vienna, but it was not accepted by the Emperor.

The Red Book on Roumania, published by Burian, which contains a summary of my most important reports, gives a very clear picture of the several phases of that period and the approaching danger of war.  The several defeats that Roumania suffered justified the fears of all those who warned her against premature intervention.  In order to render the situation quite clear, it must here be explained that during the time immediately preceding Roumania’s entry into war there were really only two parties in the country:  the one was hostile to us and wished for an immediate declaration of war, and the other was the “friendly” one that did not consider the situation ripe for action and advised waiting until we were weakened still more.  During the time of our successes the “friendly” party carried the day.  Queen Marie, I believe, belonged to the latter.  From the beginning of the war, she was always in favour of “fighting by the side of England,” as she always looked upon herself as an Englishwoman, but, at the last moment at any rate, she appears to have thought the time for action premature.  A few days before the declaration of war she invited me to a farewell lunch, which was somewhat remarkable, as we both knew that in a very few days we should be enemies.  After lunch I took the opportunity of telling her that I likewise was aware of the situation, but that “the Bulgarians would be in Bucharest before the Roumanians reached Budapest.”  She entered into the conversation very calmly, being of a very frank nature and not afraid of hearing the truth.  A few days later a letter was opened at the censor’s office from a lady-in-waiting who had been present at the lunch.  It was evidently not intended for our eyes; it contained a description of the dejeuner fort embetant, with some unflattering remarks about me.

Queen Marie never lost her hope in a final victory.  She did not perhaps agree with Bratianu in all his tactics, but a declaration of war on us was always an item on her programme.  Even in the distressing days of their disastrous defeat she always kept her head above water.  One of the Queen’s friends told me afterwards that when our armies, from south, north and west, were nearing Bucharest, when day and night the earth shook with the ceaseless thunder of the guns, the Queen quietly went on with her preparations for departure, and was firmly persuaded that she would return as “Empress of all the Roumanians.”  I have been told that after the taking of Bucharest Bratianu collapsed altogether, and it was Queen Marie who comforted and encouraged him.  Her English blood always asserted itself.  After we had occupied Wallachia, I received absolutely reliable information