h, we're a couple of pals, the King and I ... like two fingers of one
hand ... that's why I was in no hurry to answer his call just now....
Well, as I was saying, we were having a little spree, and the King was
going to introduce me to a little ... but that's another secret....
I'll skip the details, it is enough to say that after waiting a while, I
found, instead of the girl, the King, my King. And where? Beside the
Singing Fountains in the Place de la Concorde. Ah! my dear friends, what
a state he was in! I hardly knew him at first; in fact, I shouldn't have
known him at all if I were not such a sharp detective. He had removed
his false beard and spectacles. I tell you Frederick-Christian has aged
ten years, his clothes were torn and covered with mud, and moreover he
was dead drunk! How he managed it in the time I don't know, for he
wasn't away from me for more than an hour. What would you have done in
my place? Left there in that deserted street he would have been at the
mercy of the first thief or assassin. Therefore, I say, I saved his life
by putting him into a cab and bringing him back to the Royal Palace.
While I was helping to put him to bed, I noticed a letter pinned to his
coat with this inscription on it, 'I am to read this when I wake.' So I
have arranged accordingly. He'll see it the first thing on opening his
eyes. Well, what do you think of that? Didn't I save the King's life a
second time?"

M. Louis nodded:

"Never twice without the third time."

"I hope so ... well, au revoir, Monsieur...."

"Pardon, Monsieur," interrupted one of the employes, "but his Majesty
has asked for you again."

"All right, I'm going," replied Wulf, as he drank his fifth vermouth.

* * * * *

"Whatever happens, whatever you are told, do not show any surprise. Take
up your customary life again as though it had never been interrupted, as
though nothing had happened since the night of December 31st."

Frederick-Christian, the victim of a racking headache, read and reread
these strange mysterious words, without in the least understanding their
meaning. After a heavy sleep, he had wakened about nine o'clock to find
himself lying comfortably in his own bed at the Royal Palace. At first
he thought it was part of his nightmare, that he was dreaming, but as he
became more fully awake, he was obliged to admit the evidence of his
senses.

At this moment, he suddenly caught sight of the crumpled le