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It appeared that Carol's valet, knowing his master's fiery temper, had concealed all knowledge of the theft. He had, two weeks previously, he said, been accosted on the street by an extraordinarily goodlooking young woman. She had invited him to dine and presumably to wine. He accepted the invitation. . . . Next morning, the valet continued, he woke up with a bad headache to discover that the correspondence, including his own, was gone. His letters were subsequently returned, except one which contained the names of people who had visited the Prince at his Orne Villa,
Rumors. Many rumors circulated. One was that Prince Stirbey, great and good friend of Dowager Queen Marie, had several times carried letters for her to Paris.
It was also said that the Rumanian government had politically and officially hinted to the Government of France that it would be glad if Prince Carol were removed from French soil, pointing out that it was anomalous for the Republic to harbor a Prince who was plotting against a friendly state.
Hearing this, it was said that Prime Minister Benito Mussuloni of Italy had forthwith wired to Prince Carol offering him asylum on Italian soil, the inference of course being that Italy's aspirations in the Balkans would benefit if Carol were recalled to Rumania as King.
Last week, it was reported that Princess Helene and Prince Carol would meet in Florence, Italy, some time during this month. This was intended to be construed that the royal couple had decided to become reconciled, which event would, according to this interpretation, foreshadow the early return to Bucharest of Prince Carol.
Significance. Censorship veiled conditions in Rumania to such an extent that prognostication seems impossible. However, it is known that disatisfaction in that country is such that all the opposition parties are only too glad to hang their hats on the Carplist peg in order to oust Prime Minister Bratiano and what they call his corrupt regime. The Carolist movement in Rumania may be seen, therefore, in the light of an anti-Bratiano rather than a pro-Carol move. If this be true, anything may happen, and not the least possible is the recall of the onetime Crown Prince.