Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-09
KING ED w ARD VII.
Confned tpmp0
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to show it to the Kaiser who was in the next
ROOM
What did the Emperor say?"
He said, If were you l should take these
fellows out into back yard, and have them
shot ," emperor William H. had come over
to Osborne. to his grandmother's death bed,
sympathetic action which deeply touched the
British people. This remark is perfectly
authentic)
hat was strong advice:
% 1t was sound advice v responded gloom
lily; but of course it impracticable. He
had to explain that the law of his country
would not allow that kind of thing, even if
the King had been willing
And he was not, of course?"
No The secret agent spoke with sharp
ness could not understand.
What view did ". Richie take?'
Nv. Richie was not consulted" This
swer given with a touch of scorn.
had always known that V. was great be-
lever in democratic institutions; or it is
rather pose with him to treat constitutional
government as pretense kept up to delude
the people, whose affairs are really managed
for them by Kings and the confdants of
Kings to-day as much as in the past.
But surely he is the responsible minister"
! objected.
This is not ministerial matter. 1t is
dynastic one; and the sovereign is entitled
to take his own course.
And you said that His Majesty has de-
cided to ignore the Incident"
D'Esterres has nothing to fear
| was struck by the emphasis with which
he pronounced this name. Then the Count
has some hand in it. you consider"
" looked at me with satiriCal smile. " Do
you think he called you yesterday merely
out of friendship for Lord Archibald COmyn!
D'Esterres knew very well that his neck
was in danger"
The Frenchman not having honored me
with his confidence, did not hesitate to reply,
hat firm nv nVvY
He pretended to me that he was only locker
on: but"
V. snatched the words out of my mouth.
ID Esterres, if that is his right name, is at the
spring of the Jacobite revival. The Stuart
Club is his creation AS for this plot. have
doubt that it has been his work from be-
ginning to end-very likely he drew up the
The others are merely his puppets.
felt that | was hearing the truth at last
81 confess that Lord Archibald Comvn does
not strike me as a politician l threw out.
,.ao comyn is poet, the agent .h returned In with
school boys indulging in sensational reveries
about Mary Queen of Scots, while cooler heads
than theirs are making use of them for prac-
teal purpose"
- And that purpose?" limited
VS. manner became reserved again. ASK
yourself who are D'Esterres friends, on the
Continent. For what clients is he likely to be
acting? You may be sure he did not come
over to England without some encouragement
1t is the people behind D Esterres that have
to be reckoned with"
l silently recalled the names of the Legit-
mist sovereigns, claimants to sovereignty,
who had been mentioned by Lord Archibald
and the Count.
You cannot prosecute them" my friend
added significantly. Their influence is felt
in every quarter of society, even in the very
shadow of the throne"
l held my breath.
The secret agent allowed minute to elapse
before saying in lighter tone, After ali. l
don't see that you can blame them. In my
opinion the next generation will see the repeal
of the Act of Settlement Religious tests are
out of date"
And the dynasty?"
The dynasty is in no danger. 1t will sim
ply mean that the sovereign will be free to
follow his own inclination in the choice of
communion. :
so there will be prosecution" observed
after long silence
That is decided :"
What will the nation Think"
THE nation will never know of this episode
1t will be entirely suppressed The press has
been warned You may regard the incident
as closed"
He rising to take his departure, when |
reminded him, You have not asked me to
keeD this conversation secret