Evening star., 1896-11-28
the count broke OF his speech with ar, In
artfcii1ate st&mmer, as II ha had been

articiila1e stAmner. as Il hs Rad been
struck by d blow.
Tie erect vas extraordinary. and thrilled
every one present with a vague sense of
For the space Of several seconds the two
men stood thus facing one another. Then.
turning once more toward the spot from
which he had Just removed his eyes. Sir
John raised his right arm slowly and point
ed to the figure In the easy chair.
You lie. Count Sastrowitch,'' he said.
spea King in the same quiet. deliberate man.
ner as before. For you know that yonder
wretched man is not the King Of Balkania." :"
TO convey an adequate conception Of the
tremendous impression produced by these
humble pen. Their effect, indeed, was in
describable. The prime minister, with eyes
distended and bloodless cheeks. staggered
back. clutching convulsively at the arms or
lips opened and closed mechanically, as II
he were struggling for speech and could
bring forth no sound.
moment of total silence followed. The
two ambassadors gazed. dumb and open.
mouthed, now at Sir John. and now at
Count Sastrowitch. whilst the others stood
rooted to the spot-Struck mute, as II
seemed, with establishment at a revelation
the full meaning of which their minds were
quite unprepared to grasp Tine prince was
the first to break the silence. Cttering an
exclamation, half of horror. half OF be-
wiIderment, he took a step forward, then
of eager expectation looking toward Sir
John Templet0n, as If for some further
solution of the extraordinary mystery his
words had unveiled.
Amid this strange scene the miserable
object Of it all, still recumbent in the royal
armchair. but completely collapsed now
and huddled together in an almost shape
less mass, stared with lull eyes vacantly
into the space before him, quiverihg and
quaking like a creature stricken with q
sudden palsy,
Slowly Sir John let his extended right
arm sink to his side. Then. turning once
more to the prince regent. he bowed low.
and said in his simple, courtly tones: II
am at your majesty's commands
The words released the spell that rested
upon the assembly. Uttering a yeH of
witch now sprang forward with a sudden
bound. But whether his purpose was to
fall upon Sir John Tempieton or to wreak
his mad passion upon the prince, whom
he hated. will never be known. for, before
he could execute It, he was seized by the
two officers of the latter's retinue and held
In their iron grip, powerless to acl or move.
Pale and agitated, Prince Gregor Alex
ander strobe quickly to the door. turned
the Key In the lock, and approaching the
prime minister, who stood with white lips
and staring eyes, between his two stall
wart guardians, regarded him long and in
tentiy.
Miserable man." he said, at last 81 re-
quire no confirmation from your lips. But,
by the heavens above US, unless you make
fuil confession of your unexampled villainy
l will have you torn to pieces. limb by
limb, without ruth or mercy. You have
heard me. Now, speak. What have YOU
dCne with my brother?'
Before Sastrowtch could answer, Sir
John interposed respectfully.
Perhaps, sire he said ''since it has
falfen to my lot to disclose this lamentable
history so far, You will permit me to ex-
plain what remains to be explained. Count
Sastrowitch can correct where | may
De at 1ault, and supply, II he will, such
details as l. in my ignorance, may omit
That your majesty had been King of Bal
kama for four weeks was apparent to me
from the moment l set my eyes upon this
sorry counterfeit of royal majesty. As
your majesty is doubtless aware four In
mates of the late kings household sue
cumbed to the epidemic maiady which
proke out within the palace wallis two
months ago. OF these, one apparently died
with suddenness unusual, If not unpre-
cedented. in the case of this particular dis
ease; fact which passed at the time with
out attracting attention, for the supposed
victim was parsonage of little eonse-
quence; no other, indeed, than the body
servant of the deceased monarch"
Merctful powers the prince broke in,
man in the chair. "Valetzki. 1 see it all.
1t is Valetzki himself, the late king
valet
Precisely" Sir John resumed ut was
1iiS MdJeSty tilS KING VINO QleQ OF typhoid
Fever. not his servant. The mans natural
resemblance to his royal master, which
Van1ty had led him to cultivate by artificial
means, no doubt first suggested to Count
SastroWitch the possibility of the fraud
Which has now been so opportunely ex-
posed. How it was effected probably no
one is better qualified to explain than Doc
tor Lobelien, his late majesty's body ply
slcian, who certified the supposed fact of
Valetzkis death, and arranged for the in
terment of the kings remains in place of
those of his servant
"Ah!' the prince exclaimed. covering his
face and shuddering. My brother buried
in Wallets grave. The villains, the vii
lainsr'
AS the whole details of the dastardly plot
broke in upon his intelligence, he seemed
for the first time to realize the loss of the
brother he hadloved and revered so deeply
and he gave way to burst of grief which
was affecting to behold.
Your majesty" said Prince Sorat toff, the
Russian pienipotentfary, stepping forward
after pause, with an air of deep concern
will scarcely need my assurance that the
august government 1 have the honor to
represent never entertained the faintest
suspicion of the vile plot. This worthless
parchment the treaty upon the
table with a gesture of disgust-"preves
conclusively that my sovereign has been no
less the dupe Of yonder craven schemer
than your majesty yourself"
1T Is wef.' the prince said, regaining his
seff-control once more, and speaking In a
cold and disdainful tone. II have, as you
say, no need of your excellency's assurance
Nay, no more. have heard sufficient As
for you, gentlemen" he continued address,
ing those around him generally, you will
beg. observe the strictest silence on what
you have witnessed here this evening The
punishment of those concerned in this
audactous crime l reserve for my future
considera tion.'
While the officers Of his suite, with the
two wretched conspirators in their midst
passed slowly from the room, the prince
turned fmpulsively to Sir John Templeton
no, with the two ambassadors, was pre-
pairing to follow them.
Ah, Sir john" he exclaimed, you have
dcne we'll, marvelously well. 1 understand
now why You have acted thus, ,and not other
wise. There were weightier things to con-
slider here than the tender feelings of a
brother; else 1 might perhaps have jtist
cause of complaint that you did not en-
ploy gentler means than these of removing
the veil from my eyes. But rest assured Of
my gratitude. I shall not forget what Won
have done for my country as well as for
him who now rules It,"
He waved hts hand in token of farewell
and Sir John Templeton bowed in silence
and withdrew.
1t will be remembered that the sudden
accession Of Prince Gregor Alexander to
/ the throne Of Balkania at one of the most
critical moments of European history soiy-
ing almost providentiany, as men thought
political complication, the conseouences
W