nion...."

"No, I say.... It is I who have been giving you all the information and
that, you know, is rather surprising.... You are the acting head of the
Secret Service and you should have known all this. It's not my place to
tell you what's going on at the Royal Palace."

"M. Annion, nothing at all has happened."

This reply threw M. Annion into a sudden fit of anger.

"Is that so? Nothing has happened, hasn't it? And you don't realize the
gravity of the case! Really, Vicart, it's discouraging! Can't you
understand that we must absolutely come to some decision? The ministry
is under the constant threat of interpellations and that state of
affairs cannot continue."

"Oh, I don't say the situation isn't serious, I only say nothing new has
turned up."

"That's just what I'm complaining about--your absolute lack of
comprehension. To begin with, a week has gone by ... a whole week since
Juve left, and not a word from Glotzbourg.... In fact, Juve is a day
late already.... Does that convey nothing to you?... To me it means that
Juve has found nothing there."

"I don't quite understand," ventured the bewildered Vicart.

M. Annion took pity on his subordinate.

"Before Juve left he had proved to me that the King was the real King;
isn't that so?"

"Yes."

"But that doesn't alter the fact that the King is a murderer.... Juve
suspected some court intrigue, that's why he left for Glotzbourg. Now
what is our situation? We have a King who has committed murder, and we
don't arrest him. But that is the least of my worries. What about public
opinion on the one hand and the extraordinary audacity of this monarch
on the other?"

"Public opinion?"

"Yes! why the deuce don't you read the papers? Learn what is going on!
Take the opposition press--they're always hinting at the weakness of
the government in not arresting criminals on account of diplomatic
complications. While I've seen to it that no more manifestations take
place outside the Royal Palace, that the public for the time being is
muzzled, still it is only waiting a chance to break out again. And now
here is Frederick-Christian writing to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
saying he wishes to meet the President of the Republic ... while he is
here incognito. Still, by the terms of the protocol, he owes a visit to
the Elysee--he's right about that."

"Well, what then?"

"Why, it complicates things very awkwardly. How can the President
receive, especially incognit