The Spy Who Was Mata Hari | Quicksand | 3
00:00 Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of The Spy Who, ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. This episode contains a scene of a sexual nature and is intended for adult listeners only. December 23, 1916, Madrid. Major Arnold Kala, the head of German intelligence operations in Spain, pours out two glasses of sherry and hands one to Matahari, who is seated on his sofa. So, madame, to what do I owe this pleasure?
00:46 Kala is curious why Matahari has made contact with him instead of her German spymaster in the Netherlands. Spain is a neutral country infested with spies. This is a dangerous breach of protocol. Matahari sips her sherry instead of responding. He frowns at her. Do you have urgent information for me? Matahari nods.
01:14 Yes, the French have discovered one of your invisible inks. Kala nods. We are already aware of this. The Allies are also planning an offensive under British command on all fronts in the spring. The spring offensive is hardly news. Matahari looks frustrated. And the famous aviator, Jules Vedrine, is engaged in dropping French agents behind German lines. I'd be surprised if he wasn't.
01:49 Kala can't decide whether she's a terrible spy or a French double agent trying to feed him worthless information. Matahari straightens her back. And the French have tried to recruit me as a spy. Calla suspects she guessed his thoughts and is trying to get her advantage back. And what did you tell them? I agreed, of course. I can get you even better information if I pretend to work for the French. Why did they want to recruit you?
02:24 For the same reason your side did, because I have sex with many powerful men. Her directness surprises him. For a moment, he just stares at her. He wants her. Her unashamed availability arouses him. But he also senses that she knows this and hopes to use it to trick him. There is no doubt she is a skilled cortisans. But he must be careful.
02:54 He needs a way to test her loyalty. He stands and places his sherry glass on the sideboard. Well, I am afraid I am very busy, so I must get on. But I will consider what you have told me. Of course, I imagine your work must consume you night and day. Kala senses an opening he can use, a chance to test Matahari's true loyalties. It does. At the moment, I need to get German and Turkish officers and munitions to the coast of French Morocco.
03:31 via submarine. It's a complex and time-consuming endeavor. How desperately important. I'll leave you to it. Carla escorts her to the door. It was a pleasure to meet the famous Matahari. You certainly live up to your reputation. Matahari flashes a smile at him. And you've only met a tiny bit of me. Imagine how exciting it would be to meet him.
04:01 the rest. He watches her walk away, feeling a heady mix of sexual desire and the thrill of the hunt. He set a trap now to watch and wait. Hey, I'm Cassie Depeckel, host of Against the Odds from Audible Originals. In our latest series, when a fur trapper named Hugh Glass is brutally mulled by a grizzly bear and left for dead, he fights for survival and is chance for revenge. Listen to Against the on Audible or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Lauren Malloy, the host of the podcast, My Mom's Murder. For 30 years, I thought my mom died of natural causes. That's what everyone told me.
04:48 That's what I believed. Until one day, I got a phone call that changed everything. A woman claiming to be my mom's best friend told me my mother was murdered and that no one had ever investigated it. So I did what the detectives wouldn't. pulled the threads, knocked on doors, and confronted the contradictions. And what I found, it's worse than I imagined. Something happened to my mom.
05:15 Someone killed her. And I won't stop until I find out who. The system may have given up on my mom, but I never will. Listen to my mom's murder wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all 10 episodes early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. I'm Gemma Weillan, and this is The Spy Who, an audible original. In the last episode, Matahari offered to spy for the French in return for one million francs
05:53 so she could marry her young Russian lover and live carefree forever more. But now, she is suspected by both the French and the Germans of double-crossing them, and both sides are determined to find out whose side she's really on. This is episode three, Quicksand. The next day, Christmas Eve 1916, the Ritz Hotel, Madrid. Matahari's taffeta ballgown rustles as she's escorted off the dance floor by a portly French attache in his 50s. They are both attending the hotel's Christmas Eve.
06:40 ball. She smiles as he guides her to a small, intimate table in the refreshment room and orders two glasses of champagne. A toast to the most alluring woman in the room. Natahari smiles. You are too
06:58 kind. And what are your plans here in Madrid, madame? Why, to fall in love with you, of course, Colonel. The attache chuckles. She leans in close. If only I had met you earlier, instead of sending my intelligence reports to Paris, I could have told you directly. What intelligence reports? I am an agent of France. My orders come
07:26 from Captain Ladu, and I have learned the Germans plan to land a submarine of German and Turkish soldiers on the shores of French Morocco. Good God, where will they land? This I do not know. When? How many men? Matahari shakes her head. I did not ask questions. I cannot appear too interested, you see. Where did the information come from? Is it reliable? From Major Kala at the German embassy. Can you visit him again and find out more? Matahari hesitates. It will look suspicious if she visits Kala again so soon.
08:09 but if she's to convince the French to pay the million francs they promised her, she needs to learn more. Four days later, Major Calla's home, Madrid. Matahari watches Cala warily. She knew as soon as he opened the door that something was wrong. Although polite, there's a hardness to him now. What an honor to see you again so soon. I realized I had forgotten to ask about payment,
08:42 for the information I supplied. I have many debts, you see. Carla lifts an eyebrow. Come into the light. Matahari obediently moves to stand in front of a large window. Carla moves in close, lifting her chin with his finger. You have repeated what I told you. The French are sending radio messages everywhere,
09:08 asking where the officers will alight in Morocco. They might easily have learned it from another source. How do you know what their radio messages say? We have their encryption codes. Ah, how clever you are. Calla's fingers leave her chin and follow the line of her neck, downwards, and towards her breasts. If Berlin knew I told you, it would cost me a great deal, but with a beautiful woman, all can be forgiven. His fingers continue over her breasts.
09:50 He looks directly into her eyes. Matahari has been with too many men and not to know what he wants. She meets his eyes. It's the signal he's been waiting for. His hands continue purposefully down to lift up her skirt. As he has rough, urgent sex with her,
10:15 Matahari pretends to enjoy it to cover up how vulnerable she feels. When it's over, Kala pulls up his trousers, then lights a cigarette while watching her adjust her undergarments. She feigns nonchalance. I have missed my German soldier lovers. The Germans are the strongest and the bravest. Kala eyes her through the curling smoke.
10:43 The French also have many brave men. There is one now who has been dropped behind our lines to collect information, but we will find him soon enough. Matahari wonders why he's told her when he's obviously suspicious. Is it a trap? A test? She wants nothing more than to leave this house. I must go. I have an appointment for lunch.
11:11 Hmm. Aren't you forgetting something? Kala walks over to his writing desk, opens a drawer, and counts out a wad of Spanish banknotes before handing them to her. Matahari looks at it for a moment. She's not sure if it is for her information or for sex. She takes it quickly and tucks it into her handbag. She needs the money, so it makes little difference why he's handing it over.
11:41 He smiles, but without any war. warmth in his eyes. The rest will be sent to your Dutch maid Anna in Roormand. Matahari nods, her throat constricting. She doesn't like the look on Callas' face, but he has paid her and promised her more. The next day, December 29th, 1916. Deuxium Bureau headquarters, Paris.
12:15 French military intelligence chief, Georges Ladue, is in his office when his secretary hands him a sheaf of papers. Latus batch of intercepted telegram, sir. Ladu skims through the decrypted messages. The British broke one of the German codes two years ago. There's not much in them these days. Ladu suspects the Germans know it's been cracked. Suddenly, he sits up straight and reads more closely.
12:48 A series of messages were sent from... Spain to German intelligence headquarters about an agent named H21. They reveal this agent has pretended to accept an offer to spy for France. A grin cracks on Ladu's face. They must be talking about Matahari. The intercept goes on to talk about Agent H21, providing a detailed intelligence report that will be forwarded on by letter. Ladoux rifles through the other telegrams, but none detail the information supplied.
13:26 Disappointed, he searches for anything confirming H21's identity. Received 5,000 francs beginning of November, now requesting 10,000 francs made to her servant in Roermont in the Netherlands. Please notify consul in Amsterdam. Yes, it all fits. Ladoux's elation is soon replaced with caution. The fact the German codes have been broken cannot be revealed. He cannot use these telegrams as evidence. But now he's certain Matahari is a spy, he can afford to be more robust in gathering evidence.
14:09 Emmanuel! His secretary hurries in with a notepad and pencil. Instruct to every officer in Spain and France. All of Matahari's lovers to be questioned about every conversation they've ever had with her, Monnier and Tarley will give you the list of names. The secretary disappears to issue the orders. Ladu rubs his hands with glee. Soon, he will have good news to report to his superiors about the hunt for German spies.
14:47 New Year's Day, 1917. The Ritz, Madrid. In her hotel suite, Matahari opens a letter from one of her former lovers, a Spanish senator. As she reads, her eyes widen with horror. In it, he tells her he has been questioned by a French intelligence officer about their relationship. The officer also warned him that she is a person hostile to the Allies. She doesn't understand. She's just given the French an intelligence coup.
15:24 She rushes to her bedroom to get dressed and pack. She must return to Paris to confront Ladoux. Three days later, Deuxien Bureau headquarters, Paris. In Ladu's office, Matahari's tapping foot betrays her nerves. She's been waiting for over an hour to see him. Ladu's bulk finally appears in the dress. doorway. Matahari springs to her feet. Why are you avoiding me? I'm not. I'm just very busy. There is a war on.
16:04 Then why are your men interviewing my former lovers and telling them I am an enemy spy? Really, madame, what are these fairy tales? Don't you think my men have better things to do with their time? I do. Acting on the intelligence I sent you. What intelligence? About the German submarine landing on the coast of Morocco. Oh, that? I thought it was a German ploy to feed us false information. This is why I told you to use code or invisible ink. Instead, you send open letters addressed to people in my department.
16:44 But I also told the French attaché in Madrid. He instructed me to return to Major Cala at the German embassy to get more information. I did that and told him what I learned before he left for Paris. Look, I shall make inquiries. Why don't you retire to your hotel? Matahari knows something is wrong. Instead of asking about the information she discovered, Ladu is trying to get rid of her.
17:16 Her head suddenly hurts with all these mind games. Without a word, she heads to the door. With each step, she feels more alone. Her Russian fiancé, Vadim Maslov, is back fighting at the front. Her other lovers are ignoring her calls and letters. She blinks back the tears as she draws on her gloves. She appears to be suspected by two intelligence services, and she has nobody she can trust or turn to.
17:56 I'm Gemma Weillan, and in the new season of The Spy Who, We tell the story of the original femme fatale, The Spy Who Was Matahari. A famous dancer turned World War I secret agent, accused of seducing allied officers to uncover their plans. But was she a temptress or a scapegoat for French failures? Follow The Spy Who now, wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also listen to the full season of The Spy Who Was Matterhari, early and at free on Audible. By 1779, Benedict Arnold had said, sacrifice more for the revolution than almost any other man in America. One of George Washington's
18:34 most effective commanders, he had nearly lost a leg in the Second Battle of Saratoga. But in return, Arnold believed he had been humiliated by Congress and cheated of his glory by lesser men. So he decided to make them pay. Hi, I'm Lindsay Graham, the host of the podcast American scandal. We bring to life some of the biggest controversies in U.S. history, presidential lies, environmental disasters, corporate fraud. In our latest series, Benedict Arnold turns his back on his comrades in the Continental Army and secretly defects to the British. With the help of his wife, he plots to hand over the most important colonial fortress to the enemy and doom the revolution he once served. Follow American Scandal wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all episodes of
19:19 American Scandal early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. One month later, February 13, 1917. Hotel Elyse Palace, Paris. In Room 131, Matahari sits in her lace-trimmed dressing gown, trying to eat breakfast. Her knife clatters from her grasp as the sight of the open letter on the table prompts fresh tears. The letter is from her fiancé Maslov. His superior offices have forbidden him from marriage.
20:03 her. She has been sobbing all morning. She wipes her eyes on a lace handkerchief and then opens the door. Outside, a five police officers. One steps forward. Madame Zeller, I am police commissioner Albert Priolet. I'm here to arrest you on suspicion of spying for Germany. What? Why? Madame, please get dressed. Your room will now be searched. Your room will now be searched. Matahari watches the policeman yanking clothes out of her closets and emptying jewelry boxes onto the dressing table. She should be used to this, but it still feels like the worst violation. One officer picks up her purse, removing the money. She lunges towards him.
20:57 Thieves, that's my money. The police commissioner pulls her back. Your money is evidence. You may keep the francs, but we must take the foreign currency. Another policeman examines the bottle of mercury medicine she uses to treat her syphilis. That's my medication. I need it. Madame, you are a suspect now. Everything is evidence until we decide it isn't.
21:29 A few hours later, Palais de Justice. Paris. In a small, airless room, examining magistrate Pierre Bouchardin sits opposite Matarri. Bouchardin doesn't bother glancing at the file about her that sits on his desk. He already knows it contains little of value. The copious surveillance notes appear to be little more than a list of Paris's finest shops, hotels and restaurants. The interviews with her former lovers reveal nothing damning. There's not enough evidence in this file to hang a cat, but Bouchardin is undaunted. Above his thick and curled moustache, his eyes watch Matahari unblinkingly. It is his job to grind her down until he has a confession. Would you like a lawyer?
22:28 I don't need a lawyer. I'm innocent. Do you wish to make a statement regarding the charges? Someone is playing me. I am a French agent, not German. You maintain your innocence to each of these charges. I do. Very well, we shall continue this tomorrow. In the meantime, you will be held at San Lazare for the duration of this investigation.
23:01 Matahari pales. San Lazare is a number. notorious prison reserved for the worst female criminals. You can't send me there without proof of a crime. Yes, I can. You have been charged with the military crime of espionage. As the examining magistrate, I decide if your case goes to a military tribunal. I can hold you for as long as I need to obtain and gather evidence.
23:31 Mouchardon nods to the guards. They move forward to take Matahari by the arms. She flings them off in panic. No, I can't go to that place. I can't! Bouchardin watches unmoved as the guards handcuff her. The process of breaking her has begun. That night, San Lazar Prison. This way.
24:08 Matahari follows the billowing black tunic of a nun through the prison. The air feels damp and she can hear the scrabbling of rats. The shouts of the prostitutes elsewhere in the prison make her huddle into her furs. The nun stops and waves Matahari through a heavy wooden door
24:30 into a padded cell. The stone floor is filthy. The thin mattress looks infested with bugs. The toilet is a bug. bucket in the corner. No, I cannot stay here. The nun raises an eyebrow. You will stay here.
24:54 A harassed, white-coated doctor enters the cell. Good evening. My name is Dr. Bizarre. I need to check you for venereal disease. Open your mouth. Matahari opens her mouth. She doesn't have her mercury medicine. She's terrified that the visible... sores of syphilis will soon start appearing. Now I'm looking inside your ears. As the doctor surveys her face, he frowns quizzically.
25:25 I've seen you before. You've probably seen my photo in the papers. I am the famous Matahari. The doctor shakes his head. No, that's not it. Ah, I remember. The boarding house in Litoir. on my visits to check the prostitutes for venereal disease.
25:46 A cold wave of fear rushes over Matahari. That's impossible. I'm sure. You were the one who... You are mistaken. The doctor registers her discomfort and the nun's disapproving face. He finishes his examination in silence. After the door clangs shut behind them,
26:10 Matahari finally lets the tears fall, rubbing her cheeks against the comforting softness of her fur stole. She knows if the doctor tells Bouchardonne about the boarding house, where she used to rent rooms by the hour, she might never leave this place. Nobody will believe a former prostitute could be an honest woman. The next morning, day one of the investigation. In the Palais de Justice, Bouchardin questions Matahari.
26:49 Madame Zella, before you became Matahari, you were a prostitute, weren't you? He sees the fear swell in her eyes. I was not. I rode horses in equestrian shows. But you were also a prostitute. Dr. Bizarre has told me, he remembered you, because you charged such huge sums of money. Matahari looks away as she smooths a strand of hair back into place. Then she looks back at him.
27:25 Perhaps I do want my lawyer. Bouchardin smiles knowingly. Day six of the investigation. Matahari's white-haired lawyer now sits beside her. But Bouchardin is untroubled. It's obvious to him that her lawyer is more used to dealing with property purchases than espionage cases. Let us talk about Captain Vadim de Maslov. He is the love of my life.
28:01 Yet this great love did not stop you still being the mistress of Baron van de Kaplan, of the Dutch army, or the mistress of the Marquis de Beaufort of the Belgian army, nor did it stop you undertaking numerous liaisons with other military officers from Montenegro, Italy, Britain and France. I love officers. I have loved them all my life. I would rather be the mistress of a poor officer than a rich banker. My greatest pleasure is to go to bed with them without thinking of money and make comparisons between all the different countries. It doesn't make me a spy. Mahahari's lawyer looks shocked at her bold declaration, but Bouchardin sees it as a challenge. It does if you were systematically sleeping with them to gain information.
28:56 I put it to you that you targeted officers. Day 8. This is medication taken from your room at the time of your arrest. Matahari reaches for the bottles, but Bouchardon keeps them out of her reach. Not so fast. I wish to talk about the ingredients in them. What would I know about the ingredients? These ingredients include oxy-cyonide of mercury, mercury by iodine, and potassium iodine. Together, they can be used to create an invisible ink and a developer to reveal that invisible ink. Matahari stares open-mouthed.
29:42 Invisible ink! Are you mad? This is a vaginal douche to avoid venereal disease and pregnancy. Mouschardin feels his temper rising. Then you have no use for it in prison. The smile is wiped off Matahari's face. No, please. We need to undertake further chemical analysis.
30:10 Look, I don't use Invitable. visible ink. Ask Captain Ladue. He'll tell you that I never used it in my work for him. Please. Day 13. Why did you contact Major Arnold Kala in Madrid? You knew he was the head of German intelligence there, didn't you? No. I got his name from a diplomatic list in the hotel. I knew he would have information useful for Captain Ladue. Nonsense. If you were a genuine French agent, you were a you would have been working under Captain Ladu's instructions. Did he tell you to contact Major Kala? No, but he never replied to my request for instructions. I decided to take the initiative. Do you think me a fool?
30:56 You contacted Major Kala in order to get instructions from your German spy masters, didn't you? Day 44 The truth is you were already a German agent when Captain Ladu recruited you. No, that's... not true. In Berlin, before the war, you had intimate relations with a wealthy German officer in the Hussars, as well as the chief of the seaplane station and the chief of police. That I had relations with them doesn't mean I'm a spy. Matahari is flagging, but beneath his relentless questioning, Bouchardin is frustrated. He has spent months interrogating her. He has spent months
31:43 interrogating her, and she has still not confessed to espionage. He can feel the case slipping away from him. There is no choice. He must ask Ladu for the secret intelligence indicating she's a spy. It was to be avoided, so not to risk classified information becoming public. But if he doesn't, Matahari will walk free. There are books that change how you see the world. And there are books that change how you see yourself. In a new podcast series, a great book with Barack Obama, President Obama sits down with a series of surprising and sharp guests to explore six books that have shaped his life and perspective on the world.
32:37 From Song of Solomon and The Fire Next Time, to all the pretty horses and Gilead. The president is joined by guests like Tom Hanks and Tanahasi Coates to reflect on how these timeless stories shaped his thinking on everything from fatherhood to leadership and discover together what they tell us about the world we live in and the world we want to create. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of a great book with Barack Obama, ad-free right now. Plus access each audiobook discussed in the series.
33:09 Download the Audible app today. On January 1, 1892, a young Irish immigrant named Annie Moore, became the first person processed at the new immigration station on Ellis Island. For the millions who followed her, this small island in New York Harbor would become the place where their American dream would either begin or end. Hi, I'm Lindsay Graham, the host of the podcast American History Tellers. We take you to the events, times, and people that shaped America and Americans, our values, our struggles, and our dreams.
33:43 In our latest series, we trace the history of Ellis Island. For more than three decades, it served as the gateway through which millions of hopeful immigrants entered the United States. But as the nation struggled to decide who belonged, some would find the gates shut to them. Follow American history tellers wherever you get your podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all episodes of American history tellers early and ad-free right now. Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. May 1st, 1917, Paris, day 74 of the investigation. Examining magistrate Pierre Bouchardin walks the corridors of the Palais de Justice with a spring in his step and encrypted telegrams in his hand.
34:36 On being told the case could collapse, French military intelligence chief, Georges Ladou, handed over transcripts of the intercepted German messages about Matahari. Bouchardon enters the interrogation room and hands Matahari the doctorate. documents. I want you to read these. These are telegrams from Major Arnold Kala in Madrid to German High Command. They refer to Agent H21, which is you. No, it's not. Yes, it is. H21 was held by the British in Falmouth because she was mistaken for another woman.
35:21 As were you. She was told to return to Madrid, as were you. H-21 has a maid in the city of Vermont in the Netherlands, able to receive payment. So do you. The sum of money mentioned is the same amount that was deposited in your account. And look here, it says the agent refuses to use invisible ink. He raises an eyebrow. You yourself told me.
35:52 me you refuse to use invisible ink. A most unusual trait in a spy, I would have thought. The Germans could have been reading my mail, and the 5,000 francs I received came from my lover, the Baron van de Capelaine. Bouchardonne lets the silence drag out, then leans forward. I am going to end the interview for today.
36:21 You should reflect and think very carefully about what you tell me from here on. Day 95. Matahari sips a glass of water, feeling feverish and tense. Bouchardon watches her with those remorseless eyes she has begun to hate. Months of captivity and interrogation have triggered bouts of illness and depression. She has even started vomiting blood. But she knows the telegrams.
36:58 changed everything. Now she must revise her story, even though doing so will count against her. I have decided today to tell you the truth. If I have not told everything before, it was because of certain doubts, which I will explain. A satisfied smile appears beneath the curls of Bouchardons' moustache. Go on? When I was living in the Netherlands in 1915, I was bored and desperate to return to Paris. One day, I received a visit from Karl Khrmur, the German consul. He asked if I would be willing to return to Paris to obtain information for them. They would pay for me to do so.
37:52 I was overjoyed at the chance to return to Paris, so I accepted. continue he gave me three small bottles of invisible ink and showed me how to use them and where are they now i threw them overboard as soon as i sailed out of amsterdam i was tricking them i never intended to spy for germany when the british searched my luggage in fokston they didn't find the in inks did they if your intentions were so innocent why didn't you tell Captain Ladue this when he first mentioned the suspicions against you? I did not think it relevant. Why did you go to Vitelle? A restricted zone. I told you I wanted to meet Captain Maslov.
38:48 You are lying. In his statement, Lieutenant Jean Alour clearly says you asked him how to get to Vitell on July 27th. two days before you met Captain Maslov. Yes, well, initially I wanted to go for my health, but then I knew Captain Maslov would be there, and so I was even more eager to go. Matahari hears how weak her story sounds.
39:18 Her defence is now collapsing around her. The next morning, day 96. You can't expect me to believe that Cromer, gave you 20,000 francs without demanding any proof of information from you. The Germans give nothing for nothing. They certainly do not give their agents that kind of money for travelling expenses. It's true. The door opens and Georges Ladou enters the room,
39:54 his bulk making it feel even more claustrophobic. Even so, Matahari is pleased to see him. At last, Captain Ladue, tell him that you recruited me as a French agent. No, I did not. Matahari feels the world spinning. You did. Why are you lying? I merely pretended to recruit you because I wanted proof that you were a German spy. But then you never had any intention of paying me.
40:30 Madame, I told you repeatedly I thought you were a German spy. You've been playing a dangerous game, and now you've lost. The world spins faster. Bouchardons leans in, firing questions. Why didn't you tell Captain Ladue you had already been approached by the Germans? I had done no spying for them, so why should I mention it? She looks at Ladu, her eyes pleading. You had me followed. You know I never gave them any information.
41:07 Bouchardonne closes the file with a decisive snap. Madame, it matters little if you actually passed any information on. You've admitted being recruited as a German spy. In the eyes of the law, that means you have committed espionage. Matahari feels the quicksand sucking her under. Day 103. Matahari slumps in her chair. Her face is puffy.
41:41 Her eyes bloodshot. She looks at Ladu and Bouchardonne with resentment. What is it you want? You don't care what I say, so just leave me alone. I'm ill. You've both sent me mad. She clutches her head in her hands. Her temples are pressing in against her brain.
42:01 Pinpricks of light, dance before her eyes. Bouchardons slides over a piece of paper. This is a statement taken from Captain Vadim Maslov. He denies being in love with you and says it was a casual liaison. The world seems to splinter along with her heart. She slides it back without weeding it. I have nothing more to say.
42:30 Ladu leans forward. Tell us who your accomplices are, else you will be shot as a spy. I cannot tell you what I do not know. Hundreds of thousands of Frenchmen have died because of German spies. Tell us who your accomplices are. Matahari throws up her head as a spurt of anger clears her brain. I am not guilty of the death of even one soldier. One month later, July 1916.
43:04 Bouchardons' office, Palais de Justice. André Mournay, the prosecutor for Matahari's trial, reads his brief. Bouchardin has recommended Mataari face trial on eight charges of espionage. It is now Mornay's job to present the case to a panel of military judges. Seems quite clear-cut. Bouchardin, sitting opposite him, nods. She openly admits her immorality. She is a born spy who targeted these officers without pity or scruple.
43:45 I agree. The telegrams and the money are strong evidence. What's missing is the impact of her spying? Bouchardons hesitates. It's clear she has the blood of many Frenchmen on her hands. The true number is incalculable. I'm certain we've understood. uncovered only the tip of the iceberg.
44:10 Mourney has worked with Bouchardin long enough to know this means there is no evidence that Matahari caused any deaths. But he also understands how important it is that she is convicted. France has lost more than 350,000 men defending Verdun. There are widespread shortages of food and clothing, and soldiers are beginning to mutiny. The country's military leadership, is under attack.
44:39 Blaming these failures on enemy spies would help. Linking those spies directly to deaths makes a conviction more likely. Monet strokes his long, graying beard. I see. Well, using her powers of seduction to weaken our country, and, given the large number of political and military lovers she had,
45:04 How many was it again? He checks the file. Ah, yes. Over 52 of them. Then I think it would be fair to say her exploits have led to the death of 50,000 Frenchmen? It's an entirely made-up figure, and both of them know it. Bouchardons smiles. Yes, I think that's fair.
45:34 Monet nods, satisfied. The risk of such a fabrication being discovered is low. Matahari's lawyer is out of his depth. The use of the decrypted telegrams means the trial will be held behind closed doors and all details kept secret. And the judges are as desperate to convict a German spy as he is. A few weeks later, Palais de Justice, Paris.
46:06 Would the accused please rise? Matahari stands, her knees trembling. She is no longer the confident, sexy pin-up. She wears a military-style jacket and skirt with a trickle or hat, but the stylish clothes hang on a gaunt frame. The eyes that once coyly fluttered now flick anxiously and uncontrollably. Her lustrous black locks are untidy, with patches of grey where the dye is stifling. starting to fade. Her skin is blotchy without makeup. She grips the wooden barrier of the dock
46:47 to steady herself. Her trial is now over, and the judges have returned to deliver their verdict. The woman, Margarita Gertruder Zella, divorced wife of MacLeod, also known as Matahari, is guilty on all charges. No! The words make no sense. None of this feels real. The judge keeps talking. Consequently, this court unanimously condemns the said Zella to death. No, no! But the trial is over, and no one is listening.
47:29 She can see the satisfied looks of Bouchardin, Ladue and Mornay. The men determined to kill her. October 15th, 1917. Two and a half months later, San Lazar Prison. Sister Leonid, her wrinkled face set in sad lines, enters Matahari's cell. It's just before five in the morning. The only light is the paraffin lamp the old nun holds.
48:07 It highlights the peaceful, sleeping face of Matahari. For a moment, she can't bear to wake her. reluctantly she shakes her shoulders gently. Madame. Yes. It's time, madame. Matahari's sleepy eyes widen into alert fear. She nods and silently begins to dress.
48:40 Sister Leonid watches her carefully rolling on her silk stockings, buttoning a blue coat and putting on a skirt trimmed with fur. Tears begin to trickle down her wrinkled face. When Matahari first arrived, she disapproved of her, but she's grown attached to this valiant woman. Matahari takes time to pin her hat on at just the right angle, and then nods at her reflection in the tiny smeared mirror. She notices the nun's tears.
49:16 Oh, sister, don't cry. Be cheerful like me. Imagine I'm going on a long journey, and we'll meet again at the end. Sister Leonid marvels at how Matahari seems so cheerful. But as she steps out of the cell and sees the large group of men waiting, Matahari's hand shoots back to grab hers. The grip is painful and trembling. I am ready, gentlemen.
49:52 Sister Leonid finally understands. Matahari is putting on the last and final performance of her life. An hour later. Five black identical cars pull up in the muddy grounds of an army fortress just outside of Paris. A crowd of officials and military personnel await. Sister Leonid gets out of one of the cars and holds out her hand to steady Matahari as she follows slowly. The crowd parts to reveal a large wooden stake in the ground. Behind it, an earthen bank.
50:38 Soon, the firing squad also comes into view. Twelve young soldiers in khaki uniforms and steel helmets, standing straight-backed and holding their rifles beside them. With them is a sergeant major in navy blue uniform. and black beret. Matahari smiles at the soldiers and then turns to Sister Leonid. Look how young they are, prayer for me, sister.
51:13 She kisses Sister Leonid's hand, then lets go and walks on alone, towards the stake. The Sergeant Major steps forward with a rope to tie her, but Matahari shakes her head. He looks impressed. He offers her a blindfold. Again, she shakes her head.
51:39 That is not necessary. Thank you. He salutes her before addressing the crowd. By the order of the third council of war, the woman Zella has been condemned to death for espionage. The sergeant major then turns on his heel and marches back. to the firing squad. Attention!
52:05 Matahari faces the 12 soldiers, turning slightly so they see her best side. They bring up their rifles in unison and point them at her. The sergeant major raises his saber into the air. Then he sweeps it down. Matahari's execution made international news. In the Netherlands, her 19-year-old daughter,
52:43 Non, learned of her mother's conviction and death through the newspapers. Ashamed of being a spy's daughter, she arranged to leave for the Dutch East Indies. But before she could depart, she died from a cerebral hemorrhage, likely caused by the syphilis she was born with. Matahari's body went unclaimed and was donated to medical science. Her embalmed head was later added to the collection of the Museum of Anatomy in Paris. It went missing from the museum around 1954. Its location remains unknown.
53:21 Most of the details of the trial were kept secret for more than a hundred years. The few released at the time cemented her reputation as a femme fatal who obtained secrets through sex. This legend captured the public imagination. The first film about her was made just two years after her death. Many more followed, including the public imagination. Greta Garbo's famous portrayal in 1931. Since then, there have been TV series, musicals, ballets, songs, novels and video games about her. There have also been Matahari perfumes, liqueurs, cocktails and cigarettes.
54:02 Hints that the legend might have flaws only crept out slowly. Between the World Wars, some German intelligence officers publicly claimed that Matahari had never been an agent for the Kaiser. Some believe the Germans knew the French had cracked their codes and deliberately sent the telegrams about Matahari to expose her as a spy. It's thought this was done to divert attention away from Clara Benedict's, the mysterious German agent about whom little is known. More recently, the release of French and British intelligence documents
54:40 showed just how thin the evidence against her was. The claim that her spying led to 50,000 deaths was based on nothing at all. It is still unclear how much spying Matahari did, and if she ever passed on any important information to Germany. The man who brought her down, Captain Georges Ladoux, was himself arrested for being a German spy just days after her execution.
55:10 He was cleared, but the details of the accusations and investigation remain classified. Many questions about Matahari's story will probably never be answered. But whatever the truth, the legend of Matahari endures. Next time on The Spy Who with Charlie Higson. I'll be talking to Julie Weirwright about the mystery of Matahari, as well as her new findings that help shed further light on her fascinating, tale of deceit, deception, and of course, espionage. Follow The Spy Who on the Audible app or wherever you get your podcasts.
55:59 You can listen to all episodes of The Spy Who, add free by joining Audible. You've been listening to The Spy Who, an Audible original. Have you got a spy story you'd like us to tell? Email your ideas to The Spy Who at Audible.com. A quick note about the scene. you've been hearing. In most cases we can't know exactly what was said. Those scenes are dramatizations, but they're based on rigorous research and the best available sources. If you'd like to know more about this story, we recommend a tangled web by Mary W. Craig and Fem Fetal by Pat Shipman.
56:44 Sources also include the French and British archives about Matahari. The Spy Who is hosted by me, Gemma Wheeler Produced by Audible with Yellow Ant This episode was written by Judy Cooper and researched by Louise Byrne
57:00 Marina Watson, Amelia Torres and Paul Ames The senior producer was Jay Priest The sound designer was Damian Pace The lead sound designer
57:12 was Joshua Morales For Yellow Ant the story editor and executive producer was Tristan Donovan For Audible The executive producers were Estelle Doyle and Theodora Leludis. Head of Production, Audible Europe, Chris Jones, Senior Director of Originals, Lisa Higginson.
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