Richest Man?

"Lady Zaharoff, widow of H.R.H. Prince Francis de Bourbon, wife of Sir Basil Zaharoff, the richest man in Europe, died last night of heart disease at Monte Carlo." Thus ran a single cabled sentence which might have been expanded into columns.

Zaharoff. In 1850 a Greek woman gave birth to a son by a Russian father. The boy made his way out of the Levant by means best known to himself, picked up ten languages here and there, picked up tips as a waiter in one of the great hotels at Zurich, picked up an education of sorts in England, became interested in the munitions industry, and made the acquaintance of a certain influential Spanish lady.

Maria del Pilar. In 1870 the Countess Muguiro gave birth to a child who became the only daughter and heiress of the exceedingly wealthy Spanish Count of that name. When she was 16, Maria del Pilar was married morganatically to Prince Francis de Bourbon. Almost simultaneously she met the enigmatic Zaharoff, who "has never made any man his friend, although he developed a fondness for Lloyd George during the War, and can very well endure Clemenceau."

Vickers Ltd. Some time after the meeting between Maria del Pilar and Zaharoff, he strode into the London office of the great munitions firm of Vickers Ltd. If report speaks truth, he asked a single question: "If I am able to procure for your firm the munitions orders of the Spanish Government, will you reward me with a partnership in your establishment, as well as the usual commissions?"

Allegedly the Vickers directors nodded, though incredulously. On his return from Madrid, Zarahoff is generally believed to have laid the order in question before them.

Wars. M. Zaharoff, who proceeded to have himself naturalized a Frenchman, proceeded also to promote the interests of Mars throughout Europe and South America with such success that a host of nicknames were coined for him: "Sleeping Partner of War," "Mystery Man of Europe" and "Croupier for the International Roulette Wheel."*

Marriage. During the years that followed this initial coup, Zaharoff achieved a reputation for being almost impervious to feminine charm. Although he entertained lavishly, his interest appeared to center wholly in munitions. He maintained a home in almost every European capital, merely as a convenience, since he traveled incessantly. In 1918 George V, R. I., created him a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire, "for war services." In 1921 the still grateful British Government advanced him to the Grand Cross of the Bath, "for war services." Still he remained a bachelor.

At length, in 1923, Prince Francis de Bourbon, Duke of Marquena, died. His widow (54) and Sir Basil (74) had waited some three decades for one another. They waited no longer. They married, if not "in haste," at once.

Mystery. Curiously enough, the Zaharoff legend remains most vigorous among the Spanish nobility, where it took its earliest roots. In a recent volume (see BOOKS) H. R. H. the Infanta Eulalia of Spain speaks of "Sir Basil Zaharoff and other prominent figures associated with the occult force which now directs Europe."

In the kitchens of the great hotels of Europe there is another Zaharoff legend. It is said that the Man of Mystery now and then chases cooks from their ranges and takes delight in cooking, by a method known only to himself, bananas.

Late despatches movingly depicted the grief of Sir Basil Zaharoff at his wife's death. It appears that for 36 hours he allowed no word of it to be announced. When the funeral was held at the Church of St. Charles, Monte Carlo, he hobbled in through a side door, "gasping, broken, twitching, scarcely able to walk in his gout slippers."

He is said to have ordered the burial to take place in May, when Lady Zaharoff's favorite flowers will be in bloom. He is understood to have declared that he will never visit Monte Carlo again, lest he be reminded unbearably of the days he spent there with her.

*He owns a major interest in the Monte Carlo Casino Co., which is whimsically entitled La societe anonyme des bains de mer de Monte Carlo (i.e., The Monte Carlo Sea Bathing Corporation).