"I intend that ethics remain the backdrop for all the actions of the Monegasque authorities. Ethics are not divisible. Money and virtue must be combined permanently. The importance of Monaco's financial market will require extreme vigilance to avoid the development of the type of financial activities that are not welcome in our country. To avoid such deviance, Monaco must function in harmony with all those organizations that share the same aim."
As he spoke, members of the Monegasque establishment--the usual suspects--huddled in a corner, muttering darkly. What could he possibly mean by this? Or, as The (UK) Sunday Times put it, certain elements in Monaco's society were "choking on their champagne."
Because by now the Prince was extremely well informed to act on his promise.
But not just yet, he told Eringer.
The Prince had just endured a three-month mourning period. (Time squandered, in Eringer's opinion.) He said he needed a chef de cabinet to assist him to take action.
And though the presence of Albert's own chef de cabinet was imperative to the day-to-day running of the Palace, the Prince designated the negotiation with Jean-Luc Allavena to such low-priority-way below building a volleyball court with sea sand at Roc Agel-that it took almost three months to seal the appointment and four additional months until Allavena could be installed at the Palace.
It was summer, the Prince told Eringer, and he had decided to spend these crucial summer months at Roc Agel, goofing off instead of taking control of his principality.
Monaco was the Prince's to lose, and words alone--at his investiture--would not be enough to win against the master exploiters still ensconced inside the Palace.
The Prince and Eringer were due to meet again for a round of post-investiture intelligence. But Albert failed to appear at M-Base as scheduled.
When they spoke by phone a few days later, the Prince apologized for the no-call no-show and promised a three-hour lunch at Roc Agel on August 10th to catch up.
A few weeks later, their "three-hour lunch" turned into a fiasco. The Prince and spymaster had many important, sensitive matters to discuss. But the Prince had invited a young frolicking couple along; "unavoidable," he said. So what should have been a strategic session was reduced to trivial chitchat.
Even after the two-hour lunch by the pool shifted to the main house, the Prince found it difficult to excuse himself from his playmates. When Eringer finally insisted they speak in private, Albert petulantly sat his playmates in front of a television set and found a room as somber as his mood for being pressed to talk business-the sole reason for Eringer's presence.
"Where do you stand with Jean-Luc Allavena?" Eringer asked.
"Yeah, I want him as chef de cabinet," the Prince replied.
This was good news--except that Allavena had, for a whole week, been on pins and needles expecting the Prince's call, as promised, to resolve issues of employment.
Precious time had been lost--was still being lost--without a chef de cabinet. And it was the Prince, not Allavena, holding up the process.
Again, Eringer urged the Prince to conduct a zero based review of all ministers, and choose his own. He was Sovereign, not his father's ghost.
Again, Eringer pointed out that the status quo was not okay; that the Prince should send a clear message to his government and his subjects, and to France, that he meant business. If he appointed new ministers and ordered them to crack down on money laundering, they would do so; the pack of ministers still in position would not.
Eringer also suggested they make examples of three money launderers-after all, they had at least two dozen from which to choose.
The Prince's disinterest that day, virtually all summer, in view of all that had been accomplished from an intelligence standpoint, left Eringer somewhat demoralized.
Later, when Eringer mentioned to one of the Prince's close friends that the lunch meeting had been disappointing, the friend said that Eringer's presence had probably interrupted a sexual escapade.
The friend added that the Prince was "taking August easy-unwinding from pressure of the last five months."
Which meant the Prince was five months behind getting his leadership established.
It seemed to many, including Eringer, the Prince was hiding out.
Coming Next: Missing Miro
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