tter pinned
to his counterpane; opening it, he read the lines that Fandor had
hurriedly pencilled the night before.

In spite of his exhaustion and stiffness, he sprang out of bed and was
about to ring for a servant when a feeling of caution came over him.

It would be better first to take stock of the situation.

What had happened?

Among the newspapers lying on the table, he noticed several copies of
the _Gazette_ of Hesse-Weimar.

He glanced over the most recent numbers, but found nothing unusual in
their columns. He then went back to the paper dated January 1st and to
his amazement saw the following announcement:

"Paris, 1st January. (From our Special Correspondent.) His Majesty
Frederick-Christian, contrary to his general custom, did not leave his
Hotel during New Year's Day. This may be accounted for by the fact that
the streets of Paris are, as a rule, crowded during this holiday and his
Majesty would have run the risk of being drawn into promiscuous contact
with the common people."

The copy of January 2d also remarked that the King had evinced a desire
to attend the Longchamps races, but had been prevented by the
possibility of a chance meeting with the President of the Republic, a
contingency not foreseen in the protocol. Frederick-Christian, in fact,
recalled that he had expressed a wish to attend the Longchamps meet, but
he asked himself how it was possible to have notified him of the change
of program while at that time he had mysteriously disappeared! But the
climax of his amazement was reached when he came to the following
paragraph:

"Paris, 4th January. (From our Special Correspondent.) His Majesty
Frederick-Christian II is still held in the French Capital by affairs of
the highest importance. His subjects need, however, be under no
apprehension, as his Majesty's health is excellent, this information
having been received by Hedwige, our well-beloved Queen.

"During his stay in Paris, Frederick-Christian has been especially
appreciative of the respectful and devoted services of M.
Wulfenmimenglaschk, head of the secret service of Hesse-Weimar, who, by
the exercise of his perspicacity and high intelligence, has found in the
King not only an able assistant, but a true friend, having the honor to
occupy the apartment at the Royal Palace next to his Majesty."

* * * * *

"What's this all about?" exclaimed the King, "what influence have I been
under during these l