1You owe us an explanation, I think, Mr. Cade,” said Herman Isaacstein, somewhat later in the evening.

2Theres nothing much to explain,” said Anthony modestly. I went to Dover and Fish followed me under the impression that I was King Victor. We found a mysterious stranger imprisoned there, and as soon as we heard his story we knew where we were. The same idea again, you see. The real man kidnapped, and the false onein this case King Victor himselftakes his place. But it seems that Battle here always thought there was something fishy about his French colleague, and wired to Paris for his fingerprints and other means of identification.”

3Ah!” cried the Baron. The fingerprints. The Bertillon measurements that that scoundrel talked about?”

4It was a clever idea,” said Anthony. I admired it so much that I felt forced to play up. Besides, my doing so puzzled the false Lemoine enormously. You see, as soon as I had given the tip about therowsand where the jewel really was, he was keen to pass on the news to his accomplice, and at the same time to keep us all in that room. The note was really to Mademoiselle Brun. He told Tredwell to deliver it at once, and Tredwell did so by taking it upstairs to the schoolroom. Lemoine accused me of being King Victor, by that means creating a diversion and preventing anyone from leaving the room. By the time all that had been cleared up and we adjourned to the library to look for the stone, he flattered himself that the stone would be no longer there to find!”

5George cleared his throat.

6I must say, Mr. Cade,” he said pompously, “that I consider your action in that matter highly reprehensible. If the slightest hitch had occurred in your plans, one of our national possessions might have disappeared beyond the hope of recovery. It was foolhardy, Mr. Cade, reprehensibly foolhardy.”

7I guess you havent tumbled to the little idea, Mr. Lomax,” said the drawling voice of Mr. Fish. That historic diamond was never behind the books in the library.”

8Never?”

9Not on your life.”

10You see,” explained Anthony, “that little device of Count Stylptitch’s stood for what it had originally stood fora Rose. When that dawned upon me on Monday afternoon, I went straight to the Rose Garden. Mr. Fish had already tumbled to the same idea. If, standing with your back to the sundial, you take seven paces straight forward, then eight to the left and three to the right, you come to some bushes of a bright red rose called Richmond. The house has been ransacked to find the hiding-place, but nobody has thought of digging in the garden. I suggest a little digging party to-morrow morning.”

11Then the story about the books in the library—”

12An invention of mine to trap the lady. Mr. Fish kept watch on the terrace, and whistled when the psychological moment had arrived. I may say that Mr. Fish and I established martial law at the Dover house, and prevented the Comrades from communicating with the false Lemoine. He sent them an order to clear out, and word was conveyed to him that this had been done. So he went happily ahead with his plans for denouncing me.”

13Well, well,” said Lord Caterham cheerfully, “everything seems to have been cleared up most satisfactorily.”

14Everything but one thing,” said Mr. Isaacstein.

15What is that?”

16The great financier looked steadily at Anthony.

17What did you get me down here for? Just to assist at a dramatic scene as an interested onlooker.”

18Anthony shook his head.

19No, Mr. Isaacstein. You are a busy man whose time is money. Why did you come down here originally?”

20To negotiate a loan.”

21With whom?”

22Prince Michael of Herzoslovakia.”

23Exactly. Prince Michael is dead. Are you prepared to offer the same loan on the same terms to his cousin Nicholas?”

24Can you produce him? I thought he was killed in the Congo?”

25He was killed all right. I killed him. Oh, no, Im not a murderer. When I say I killed him, I mean that I spread the report of his death. I promised you a Prince, Mr. Isaacstein. Will I do?”

26You?”

27Yes, Im the man. Nicholas Sergius Alexander Ferdinand Obolovitch. Rather long for the kind of life I proposed to live, so I emerged from the Congo as plain Anthony Cade.”

28Little Captain Andrassy sprang up.

29But this is incredibleincredible,” he spluttered. Have a care, sir, what you say.”

30I can give you plenty of proofs,” said Anthony quietly. I think I shall be able to convince the Baron here.”

31The Baron lifted his hand.

32Your proofs I will examine, yes. But of them for me there is no need. Your word alone sufficient for me is. Besides, your English mother you much resemble. All along have I said: ‘This young man on one side or the other most highly born is’.”

33You have always trusted my word, Baron,” said Anthony. I can assure you that in the days to come I shall not forget.”

34Then he looked over at Superintendent Battle whose face had remained perfectly expressionless.

35You can understand,” said Anthony with a smile, “that my position has been extremely precarious. Of all those in the house I might be supposed to have the best reason for wishing Michael Obolovitch out of the way, since I was the next heir to the Throne. Ive been extraordinarily afraid of Battle all along. I always felt that he suspected me, but that he was held up by lack of motive.”

36I never believed for a minute that youd shot him, sir,” said Superintendent Battle. Weve got a feeling in such matters. But I knew that you were afraid of something, and you puzzled me. If Id known sooner who you really were, I dare say Id have yielded to the evidence, and arrested you.”

37Im glad I managed to keep one guilty secret from you. You wormed everything else out of me all right. Youre a damned good man at your job, Battle. I shall always think of Scotland Yard with respect.”

38Most amazing,” muttered George. Most amazing story I ever heard. II can really hardly believe it. You are quite sure, Baron, that——”

39My dear Mr. Lomax,” said Anthony, with a slight hardness in his tone, “I have no intention of asking the British Foreign Office to support my claim without bringing forward the most convincing documentary evidence. I suggest that we adjourn now, and that you, the Baron, Mr. Isaacstein and myself discuss the terms of the proposed loan.”

40The Baron rose to his feet, and clicked his heels together.

41It will be the proudest moment of my life, sir,” he said solemnly, “when I see you King of Herzoslovakia.”

42Oh, by the way, Baron,” said Anthony carelessly, slipping his hand through the others arm, “I forgot to tell you. Theres a string tied to this. Im married, you know.”

43The Baron retreated a step or two. Dismay overspread his countenance.

44Something wrong I knew there would be,” he boomed. Merciful God in Heaven! He has married a black woman in Africa!”

45Come, come, its not so bad as all that,” said Anthony, laughing. Shes white enoughwhite all through, bless her.”

46Good. A respectable morganatic affair it can be, then.”

47Not a bit of it. Shes to play Queen to my King. Its no use shaking your head. Shes fully qualified for the post. Shes the daughter of an English peer who dates back to the time of the Conqueror. Its very fashionable just now for Royalties to marry into the aristocracyand she knows something of Herzoslovakia.”

48My God!” cried George Lomax, startled out of his usual careful speech. NotnotVirginia Revel?”

49Yes,” said Anthony. Virginia Revel.”

50My dear fellow,” cried Lord Caterham, “I meansir, I congratulate you, I do indeed. A delightful creature.”

51Thank you, Lord Caterham,” said Anthony. Shes all you say and more.”

52But Mr. Isaacstein was regarding him curiously.

53Youll excuse my asking your Highness, but when did this marriage take place?”

54Anthony smiled back at him.

55As a matter of fact,” he said, “I married her this morning.”