Paris, Madrid, Berlin, Monte Carlo, Vienna ... A life of legend was invented without suspecting that reality would far exceed the great reach of his imagination. Sometimes she was an expert Javanese princess in exotic dances; others, the heiress of a priest and Hindu in whose sacred temple he had first seen the light (Mata Hari means "eye of the dawn"). He also claimed to have learned in India the sacred dances of "devandasisher" and "kandaswami", as well as the ancient divination and love arts of eastern cultures. In a Europe fascinated by the many mysteries of the newly conquered colonies, its fame of sex-symbol flew over the borders with the same lightness that flew its seven veils on the spicy nights of Paris. Then came the private dance exhibitions, the palaces, the rich lovers, the very very VIP. Some protected her and covered her with jewels and others ended up denouncing her Machiavellian bed breaks (nothing to do with dressing gowns or sleepwear).