The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1915-05-27
"'And they apply equally to the
servants of the palace, suppose,


servants of the palace, suppose,
senior?
"'To every man, woman and child
in Spain, with the exception of the
queen regent and the prime minister
1.-THE steward was a sensible man.
He asked no further questions, but de-
parted to carry out his Instructions
During the next hour / sat in the
tutors room, receiving continual mes
sages with respect to the various per-
sons who sought to come In or out. In
each case gave my consent. Finally
| the steward returned. bringing his re-
port, most admirable paper, which
would have done credit TO any chancel-
lery In Europe. The name and, In
most cases, the business OF every Wis
| itor had been noted down with scrupu-
lous care. read the report through.
and mist came over my eyes.
"'You have done your work magnifi-
Gently, senor,' said to the steward.
I am now going to show this document
| to the queen. Should anyone want to
enter the palace while am with her
majesty, be sure to let me know
II dismissed him, and made my way
with Unsurpassed agitation to the
royal apartments, where was instant
ly admitted. / handed the report to
her majesty, and desired her to look
| through 1t, and see II 1t contained any
thing worthy of remark. She complied
with my request, but observed moth
ing. I then ventured to put Ques-
ton:
CT should be grateful IL your males
| ty could recollect any incident, how
ever trivial. during the last few days
before the kings disappearance, which
might throw light on the means OF
persuasion employed by his abduc-
| tors
Queen Christina appeared slightly
puzzled.
"Tn other Words
In other words, wherever the king
has gone to, he must, In the first In
| stance. have gone willingly
THE queen looked dismayed, and
shook her head doubtfully.
"'Think again, madame. Did any
thing occur to excite the king during
the last few days? Children sometimes
have strange ideas; they desire to
leave their homes, to initiate Robinson
Crusoe, to become bandits
"The queen suddenly looked up.
There Is one thing which perhaps
ought to mention to you, though the
recollection Is painful at this time. My
son was very much put out with me
shortly before this terrible event. 1t
was on account of the dismissal Of the
| chief cook, whom the steward had de-
tected in gross dishonesty. This man,
it appears, had nephew, child Of
about the kings own age. who had
contrived to ingratiate himself with
Alfonso, and through this nephew Go
mez had got petition into the kings
hands, praying that his fault might be
overlooked. OF course had to refuse
| the petition. and Alfonso was bitterly
| aggrieved.'
Enough, madame!' ] had begun,
when we were interrupted by the ar
rival Of the steward. begged the
queen to admit him.
"tYou asked me to let you know,
senior, II anyone desired to enter the
palace, and / therefore thought 1t my
duty to come to you. though it Is only
| the case Of a child
what child7' asked as calmly as
I could.
".Pedrillo Gomez. the cooks
nephew, who has come to visit his
uncle
He cannot be admitted for the
present, I said sterniy. 'Detain him
in your room till you hear from me-
| "The steward was plainly confound-
| ed. But he discreetly refrained from
any reply. and withdrew to fulfill my
directions.
Surely that is rather harsh step.
| demonstrated Queen Christina.
Madame, / replied. with the ut
most good humor, the child who has
just come to the palace is some impos-
tor. He Is not Pedrillo Gomez at all.
1.-THE queen looked at me as II had
| just claimed omniscience.
"'How can you say that. M. lie
Baron?
Simply by referring to the report
in your majesty's hand. You will see
from 1t that the cooks nephew entered
| the palace last Monday morning at
eight o'clock. and that he has never
left It since. Consequently, the child
at the door must be some one else
Il could see her begin to tremble.
Speak! What do you mean?
i mean this, madame, that where
as I formerly asked for five days in
which to bring your son to you. ! now
ask for 1--WE minutes. ! am going to
interview the true Pedrillo. the Pedril-
10 who has been concealed In the
cooks apartment for the last four
days