The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-05-21
communicate with you alone"

communicate with you alone"
rose to go, but Holmes caught me
by the wrist and pushed me back into
my chair. "It is both, or none," said
he. "You may say before this gentle
man anything which you may say to
me-
The count shrugged his broad
shoulders. "Then I must begin, "
said he, "by binding you both to abb
so!ute secrecy for two years, at the
end Of that time the matter will he of
no Importance. At present 1t is not
too much to say that it is Of such
weight that it may have an influence
upon European history"
"I PROMISE" said Holmes.
"And l."
"You will excuse this mask" con-
tinued our strange visitor. "The au-
gust person who employs me wishes
his agent to ,be unknown to you, and
I may confess at once that the title
by which I have just called myself is
not exactly my own"
Il was aware Of it," said Holmes,
dryly.
"The circumstances are Of great
delicacy, and every precaution has to
be taken to quench what might grow
to be an immense scandal, and seri-
ously compromise one of the reigning
families of Europe. To speak plain
ly, the matter duplicates the great
of Bohemia"
II was also aware Of that" MUIR
INJURED Holmes, settling himself
down in his armchair, and closing his
eyes.
Our visitor glanced with some ap-
parent surprise at the languid, loung-
ing figure Of the man who had been,
no doubt, depicted to him as the most
incisive reasoner and most energetic
agent in Europe. Holmes slowly re-
opened his eyes and looked impa-
tiently at his gigantic client.
eff your majesty would condescend
to state your case" he remarked, II
would be better able to advise YOU"
The man sprung from his chair,
and paced up and down the room in
uncomfortable agitation. Then, with
gesture Of desperation, he tore the
mask from his face and hurled it up
on the ground.
"You are right" he cried. II am
the king. Why should attempt to
conceal it,"
"Why, indeed?" urmure e
Holmes. your majesty had not
spoken before was aware that I was
addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigis.
mond Won Ormstein, Grand Duke OF
Cassel-Felstein, and hereditary King
of Bohemia"
"But you can understand" said
our strange visitor, sitting down once
more and passing his hand over his
high, white forehead, "you can under
stand that am not accustomed to do
ing such business in my person. Yet
the matter was so delicate that
could not confide it to an agent with
out putting myself in his power.
have come incognito from Prague fol
the purpose of consulting you
"Then, pray consult" said Holmes,
shutting his eyes once more.
"The facts are briefly these: Some
five years ago, during lengthy visit
to Warsaw, made the acquaintance
of the well-known adventures Irene
Adler. The name is no doubt famil-
lar to you
"Knly look her up in my index,
DOCTOR" murmured Holmes, without
opening his eyes. For many years he
had adopted a system for docketing
all paragraphs concerning men and
things, so that it was difficult to
name a subject or person on which
he could not at once furnish informa-
ton. In this case I found her biogra-
ply sandwiched in between that Of a
Hebrew rabbi and that of a staff
commander who had written mono
graph upon the deep-sea fishes.
"Let me see!" said Holmes. Hum!
Born in New Jersey in the year 1858.
Contralto-hum! La Scala-hum!
Prima donna Imperial Opera Of War
saw-yes! Retired from operate
stage-ha! Living in London-Quite
so! Your majesty, as I understand,
became entangled with this your per-
son, wrote her some compromising
letters, and is now desirous Of getting
those letters back"
Precisely so. But how"
"Was there a secret marriage?"
None"
"No legal papers or certiicates?"
"None."
"Then I fail to follow your majes-
ty. If this young person should pro-
duce her letters for blackmailing or
other purposes, how is she to prove
their authenticity"
There is the writing"
"Pooh-pooh! Forgery"
"My private note-paper."
Stolen"
"My own SEAL"
Initiated"
"My photograph"
Bought"
eve were both in the photograph" !"
"Oh, dear! That is very bad. Your
majesty has indeed committed an in
discretion"
"I was mad-insane.
"You have compromised yourself
seriously"
II was only crown prince then. 1
was young. I am but thirty now"
"It must be recovered"
1--WE have tried and failed"
your majesty must pay. 1t must
be bought"