"TUBE" ADVENTURE

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13877, 1 February 1909, Page 7

"TUBE" ADVENTURE

The Count Emmanuel de Balincourt, whose name has been mentioned as a frequenter of the Steinheil's house, tells the history of his acquaintance with Mme. Steinheil in the Journal. Ho admits that he does not share the fear of being known as a former guest of Mme. Steinheil, a fear which is felt, apparently, by an eminent functionary at the Ministry of the Fine Arts, three judges, a general, several wellknown Paris manufacturers, and two country gentlemen, all of whom he indicates by initials.

The count tells of his first meeting with Mme. Steinheil in the Underground Railway. There was a rush on the stairway, and a lady — Mme. Steinheil — called out that she was hurt. The count went to her assistance, and later, on telling her his name, he was invited to see her husband's pictures. He frequently went to their house, and on one occasion , he says, he had dinner with Mme. Steinheil at her villa at Bellevue. He gave her husband a commission to paint his portrait.

Sixth Phase. — On Tuesday Mme. Steinheil underwent a terrible ordeal when she was subjected to a severe examination by M. Andre, the magistrate.

The magistrate first questioned her on her married lile generally. She answered readily enough, remarking, "Was ever a woman in a stranger position than 1! J I almost shared the fate of my husband and mother. I am myself a victim, and yet now 1 find myself arraigned ior a crime the authors of which I have all along been endeavour in<; to discover!" When answering a question concerning one of her lovers she again broke in with "What possible interest could I have in committing such a crime!- 1 1 am poor, but my husband's life was not even insured."