Pagina 19 di 657

The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in

uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he

tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You

are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to

conceal it?"

"Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken

before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich

Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and

hereditary King of Bohemia."

"But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down

once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you

can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in

my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not

confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I

have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting

you."

"Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more.