Mata Hari: Implications: ‘Eye Of The Dawn’ By Renee Dallow

On May 22, 2013June 5, 2013 By Renee Lou Dallow ( Bourgeoise Bloomers )In Spy Tales

Lights come up on Ladoux ‘s offiice at the Duxieme Bureau. Ladoux is busy reading through files when a clerk enters and hands him a wireless message.

Clerk: We have just received a message from Von Kalle in Madrid concerning Mata Hari.

Ladoux: Ah … at last. ( Reads the message out loud. ) H21 will arrange through Dutch Consul in Paris for another credit transfer to be sent to her servant a Mrs Anna Lintjens. Karl Von Kramer to be informed of transfer. H21 received the sum of three thousand five hundred pasetas from myself on this day the 28th of December 1916 in return for information on the landing of French spies behind German lines. Arrangement also in place to forward final payment to Paris as H21 is planning to return within the week. (Ladoux looks over his glasses at the clerk) I have her. This is the proof I’ve been waiting for. Get me Monsieur Bouchardon immediately. Well what are you waiting for? No time to waste. ( Clerk exits.) Let’s see what our esteemed military magistrate makes of this! Bouchardon will most certainly clip her wings. This little bird shall never fly from us again. ( Pours himself a glass of cognac from the decanter on his desk and savours the thought of making an example of her. )

( Denvignes arrives in Ladoux office quite out of breath.)

Denvignes: Forgive me captain…. I have just at this moment …. arrived from … Madrid. ( Ladoux does not respond. ) Mata Hari has spent the night with Hans Von Kalle…. The military attache for German intelligence. ( Still Ladoux does not respond.) Of this I am certain.

Ladoux: ( Smiles.) Thank you but we have already been informed of madame’s activities.

Denvignes: But how is this possible? I was the only one privy to …

Ladoux: I’m afraid you have been preceeded by a wire. It would seem she has implicated herself and Von Kalle felt it his duty to inform us personally. A devious man but one to be admired. It his thanks to him that she is all tangled up in our little web. Anything you have for us now will unfortunately be considered old information and of very small value. Very much like the somewhat second hand tid bits imparted by our little canary. Unbeknownst to her of course. ( Smirks ) I certainly apologise if this has caused you any inconvenience.

(Denvignes turns on his heel and exits just as Bouchardon enters. )

Bouchardon: I hear you have something of great importance to discuss with me Monsieur Ladoux.

Ladoux: We have a double agent in our midst. Her demise will put all of France in our debt.

Bouchardon: A woman eh? Of whom do we speak?

Ladoux: All in good time your honour. First there is a small matter of payment. What is a top spycatcher worth these days? (Rises from his desk and comes round to Bouchardon. ) Let us plan our strategy away from the formal constraints of the office hmmm? ( They exit. )

Hybiscus Bloom : 22/5/2013

Mata Hari in Madrid ( ‘Eye Of The Dawn’ ) Renee Dallow

On April 15, 2013May 7, 2014 By Renee Lou Dallow ( Bourgeoise Bloomers )In Spy Tales

The foyer of Zelle’s hotel in Madrid. She hands a letter to the clerk at the front desk. Colonel Denvignes watches her and waits for the right moment to introduce himself. He buys a long stemmed rose from the hotel florist.

Zelle: ( To clerk ) Kindly have this delivered to Captain Von Kalle

Clerk: Certainly madame.

Zelle: Oh please don’t look at me that way. I am here on a very important mission. I’m afraid it must be kept secret. Trust me I know what I’m doing.

(Moves towards stairs leading up to her room. Denvignes intercepts her and hands her the rose.)

Denvignes: I couldn’t help noticing you madame. Please accept these as a small token of my appreciation for your beauty.

Zelle: How charming. But the again I would expect nothing less from a Frenchman. Are you staying here?

Denvignes: I am indeed just down the hall.

Zelle: And what brings you to Madrid Monsieur er…

Denvignes: Oh excuse me. What bad manners. I was so overcome by your presence that I forgot to introduce myself. Colonel Denvignes is my name and I am in Madrid to ensure that no harm comes to you.

Zelle: I see.So you are from the bureau then?

Denvignes: Precisely. When they offered me the chance to protect the great Mata Hari I saw it as an opportunity too good to refuse.

Zelle: And what opportunity did you think protection of my person would afford you?

Denvignes: Why the chance to be … close … to you.

Zelle: Just how close would you like that to be?

Denvignes: I think you understand my meaning. ( Moves his hand to her waist and pulls her to him. ) Now how can I give you adequate protection from away down the hall. I have heard that you have a meeting with one Hans Von Kalle. May I ask when this meeting will take place?

Zelle: ( Pulling away from him.) I will not! Monsieur I am perfectly capable of conducting myself in a professional manner and I expect you to do the same. Now if you don’t mind I have urgent business to attend to. I am here to do what I can for France whereas it appears you are here only to help yourself. As for protection you can tell Captain Ladoux that I can look after myself.

( Exits up the stairs. Denvignes watches her and rubs his hands together in anticipation of his promotion with the bureau. )

Denvignes: Very well I shall be the perfect guide and soon I shall have a spy in my snare. Who would ever have thought that one such as I would be the one to capture such an exotic butterfly. ( Exits. )

‘Eye Of The Dawn’ © Renee Dallow

( Hybiscus Bloom ) 15/4/2013

Mata Hari: Spy for France ‘Eye Of The Dawn’ Renee Dallow

On March 31, 2013April 7, 2013 By Renee Lou Dallow ( Bourgeoise Bloomers )In Spy Tales

dressed for the ball

Ladoux office at the Duxieme Bureau Paris

Ladoux: Ah madame I hope you’ve enjoyed your stay at Vittel. You certainly look the better for it.

Zelle: Yes it was a lovely visit and now I feel ready to return to my work.

Ladoux: Indeed. I’m glad to hear it. Speaking of work … I may have a good proposition for you. You remember the conversation we had before you left?

Zelle: I have a faint recollection of you mentioning my doing something for France … But as there was no mention of funds ….

Ladoux: Just how much would you suggest we pay you?

Zelle: Considering that I was once the mistress of the crown prince of … I mean a coup like that would surely earn me say … one million francs.

Ladoux: One million…! But that is a preposterous amount! ….Still … the crown prince you say …. hmmm …

Zelle: What would you say if I told you that I know someone who could arrange it all for me without any hint of your involvement whatsoever?

Ladoux: And who might this someone be?

Zelle: I happen to be on friendly terms with one Karl Von Kramer. He is the press attache at the German Consulate in The Hague. I’m sure I can procure his services with a little incentive.

Ladoux: Ah … Von Kramer … yes that should do nicely. Very well madame you have given me much to think about. We shall have to find a mission which will give you the opportunity to make the most of your contacts.

Zelle: And the one million francs?

Ladoux: We must find a way to justify such a sum. Yours will be no small task. ( Lights a cigar and plunges deep into thought.) Ah I have it! Spain! We shall organise a contract for you to perform in Madrid. After all it is the very centre for German Intelligence. Whilst there you may be able to obtain vital information for us. I shall arrange it immediately. You must remain at your hotel and await our instructions.

Zelle: Naturally I shall expect an advance.

Ladoux: I’m afraid you must prove your worth before that will be possible but of course we shall pay your expenses and set you up in the finest hotel in the city. That will be all.

Mata Hari : Papers for Vittel: Spy Tales (Eye Of The Dawn) by Renee Dallow

On February 27, 2013April 7, 2013 By Renee Lou Dallow ( Bourgeoise Bloomers )In Spy Tales

Mata Hari (Zelle) has just found out that her Russian lover has been wounded at the front and she must find a way to get to him. She cannot say why she is going and so must explain that she is for her health much like we would go to the blue mountains today for the fresh air. In exchange for the permit she must promise to be of service to France. If you have been following up to this point you will be aware that Zelle has already made a similar promise to military attache Von Kramer in exchange for the return of her furs and jewels which have been confiscated by the Germans. We find her at the duxieme bureau asking for the necessary papers.

Officer Ladoux is at his desk and concentrating very hard on some official papers before him. He does not acknowledge her entrance immediately. Zelle, agitated,shifts from one foot to the other.

Ladoux: Ah so the great Mata Hari has come for a visit .

(Surveys her from head to foot) How may I help you madame? (Motions to a chair opposite the desk.) Please make yourself comfortable.

Zelle: ( Summoning up her courage.) I need papers monsieur.

Ladoux: Indeed? And what sort of papers would they be hmmm?

Zelle: Travel documents.

Ladoux: Bored with Paris already.

Zelle: Oh no monsieur on the contrary. It is just that I have been feeling a little fatigued lately and I thought I would take the waters. I hear there is a natural spring near Vittel and that is where I should like to go. I understand I must have a permit to go there.

Ladoux: Yes indeed this is true but you must understand that even if I were to grant your request it would take some time. I could not possibly have a permit for you until the end of the week.

Zelle: Oh but that is too long. I must be there by tomorrow at the latest.

Ladoux: (Feigning sympathy.) I had no idea it was that serious. (Thinks) There might be a way …

Zelle: What is it?

Ladoux: If you were to agree to help France in some small way …

Zelle: But of course it would be a great honour.

Ladoux: There is, I believe, a small military hospital in Vittel and many of our war weary soldiers are in need of some …. er…diversion. (Watches Zelle’s face for a reaction.) Maybe you could … dance… for them.

Zelle: (Relieved.) Certainly.

Ladoux: Then it is settled. I will organise your permit this very afternoon. As I have important matters to attend to I shall leave shall leave the permit and all other necessary documents with my assistant ready for you to collect at your disposal. I shall be most anxious to meet with you on your return and discuss ways in which you can further contribute to our cause.

Zelle: I am in your debt monsieur.

Ladoux: Yes indeed … indeed … (dismisses her with a wave of his hand.)