however,
we were amazed to find it empty, save for a few heavy weights. If the
body had ever been placed in it while in the city, it must have been
removed, either there or _en route_ for this place."

"My God! what can this mean?" I cried. "Can you swear, Strekwitz, that
what you say is correct? Be careful, for I give you my word I am in no
mood to be played with."

"Your Majesty should know me well enough by this time to be aware that I
would not trifle with you upon such a matter," he answered, somewhat
reproachfully. "It has caused me the acutest sorrow. Alas! however, it
is as I state."

"In that case what is to be done?"

For the moment the news stunned me, but it was not very long before I
realised its dread importance. Von Marquart must also have done so, for
once more came the question, this time from him: "What is to be done?"
We had not only ourselves, and the country, but the whole of Europe to
consider. Von Marquart was the first to recover his composure. Turning
to Strekwitz, he said,--

"How many people know this?"

From what the other said it appeared that there were only three people
in the secret, in which number he included himself. As soon as the
direful discovery was made he had been quick to insist upon the others
keeping the intelligence to themselves. He had been so imperative on
this point that there was very little fear, he assured me, of their
making mischief. To make sure, however, I gave orders that they should
be admitted to my presence in the morning, that I might further caution
them. Then addressing myself to von Marquart, I said:

"My poor brother's body must be recovered at any cost. But that will
take time, and how are we to set about the task? To offer a reward would
only be to publish the news abroad."

"Impossible, your Majesty, impossible," von Marquart replied. "In the
interests of the country that is not to be thought of. It would be taken
as a bad omen, and until the dynasty has been more firmly established,
public opinion must be considered before everything else. Let us review
the facts of the case and endeavour to discover when and where the crime
could have been perpetrated. Where did your Majesty see the dead man for
the last time?"

"In the clockmaker's house at Zaarfburg," I replied.

"And the house itself?"

"Was closely guarded," I answered. "From the house the coffin was
conveyed to the city hall, where it lay until we started on the journey
here."