travel books: trouble between them. He could not shake off a premonition that there was something terribly serious ahead of him. He wondered who this person was that the Queen seemed to suspect? Could it be the Chief of Police?-Why had she written direct to the Prime Minister-the highest official in the land and next to the Queen herself in power?-Surely she did not suspect one of these old statesmen present now? It was desperately confusing! " I cannot explain any more, messieurs," he finished, after his very disjointed explanation. "I cannot see the end at all!" " Monsieur Royston," began the Prime Minister. "We are a very sick nation to-day. We are mourning one who was to have been our King ; we are losing a valuable ally through losing Princess Yolanda as our future Queen ; we are getting a man on the throne whom we hate-oh yes, we do! " he said, glancing round his colleagues. " Of course the people may like him-he's popular enough," he added, referring to the Grand Duke Ferdinand, "but they really wanted Carl. Finally we are faced with war! As soon as the funeral is over, we will have to face that fact. It is well known already, that we are no longer bound by ties of a marriage alliance with our neighbours ; and Bruskia has long sought the opportunity she now sees. Heaven knows what effect this will have on the peace of the world in a year or so's time. It is all very terrible to anticipate." " I wonder if Her Majesty expected the situation to develop before the funeral-that might be her reason for hinting that the arrangements might have to be held up!" said the Admiral. " But how should Monsieur Royston be in a position to know what we ourselves do not know? " demanded the Baron with considerable heat. books

Books > Old Books > A Traitor Unmasked

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trouble between them. He could not shake off a premonition that there was something terribly serious ahead of him. He wondered who this person was that the Queen seemed to suspect? Could it be the Chief of Police?-Why had she written direct to the Prime Minister-the highest official in the land and next to the Queen herself in power?-Surely she did not suspect one of these old statesmen present now? It was desperately confusing!
" I cannot explain any more, messieurs," he finished, after his very disjointed explanation. "I cannot see the end at all!"
" Monsieur Royston," began the Prime Minister. "We are a very sick nation to-day. We are mourning one who was to have been our King ; we are losing a valuable ally through losing Princess Yolanda as our future Queen ; we are getting a man on the throne whom we hate-oh yes, we do! " he said, glancing round his colleagues. " Of course the people may like him-he's popular enough," he added, referring to the Grand Duke Ferdinand, "but they really wanted Carl. Finally we are faced with war! As soon as the funeral is over, we will have to face that fact. It is well known already, that we are no longer bound by ties of a marriage alliance with our neighbours ; and Bruskia has long sought the opportunity she now sees. Heaven knows what effect this will have on the peace of the world in a year or so's time. It is all very terrible to anticipate."
" I wonder if Her Majesty expected the situation to develop before the funeral-that might be her reason for hinting that the arrangements might have to be held up!" said the Admiral.
" But how should Monsieur Royston be in a position to know what we ourselves do not know? " demanded the Baron with considerable heat.

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"Yes!" interposed the Marechal. "And how does Her Majesty, away in her quiet English house, learn what the espionage of our own Government cannot discover? With all due respect to your country's spy system," he added, bowing to Royston rather coldly.
Royston again felt uncomfortable-if they only knew what he was really there for!
There was very little more for him to discuss with them, and very shortly he took his departure. He had gained very little information that might be of use in helping him to locate his man.
But the amazing thing that stood out was the attitude of the Queen herself. What did she know-or believe she knew ? . . . Evidently the solution was to be found in Sokia !