passed, still a
bomb is an incalculable weapon--pieces of it fly in the most unexpected
directions; and it was evident that for the execution of this
ministerial veto on the Crown's action it had been necessary to risk the
lives not merely of a picked body of troops, but of several high court
officials and staff-officers riding in close attendance upon the royal
coach. And a child in politics could see that if all this risk had been
run to make abdication impossible, then abdication had been the right
card to play.

And now that game was over, and another had begun, and if, in a certain
sense, the leading cards had reverted to the ministerial hand, the King
had the advantage of knowing what they were; and by leading off in
another suit he might prevent the Ministry from playing them till too
late for effect.

It was necessary, however, first to get his proofs. They lay at Dean's
Court under official lock and key; and the hand which held that key was,
for all he knew, the same which had thrown the bomb in order to
frighten him. How, then, was he to get at it?

A brilliant idea occurred to him; so simple and easy that without
worrying himself further he went to bed and slept upon it. And next
morning, at their first meeting, he said to the Prince of
Schnapps-Wasser, "Would you not like to come and see our police museum?
Just now it contains some rather interesting exhibits--especially for us
personally--that bomb, you know." And he proceeded to give details. "The
actual pieces are all there, and a whole set of photographs, showing how
the explosion took place."

Her Majesty, hearing of the project, backed it warmly.

"You will find it quite an intellectual treat," said she, "our police
are such intelligent creatures. I went all over the museum myself once;
and it felt exactly like being in a kaleidoscope--everything so
wonderfully arranged."

"Ah, yes," said the Prince, "that should be very interesting."

And so, though it was not in the day's program, quite at an early hour
the King and his guest drove down together to the Prefecture.

The Prefect himself had not arrived, but they saw one of the high
permanent officials; and stating the purpose of their visit were
formally handed over to the Superintendent of detectives. The department
was his.

"Mr. Superintendent," said the King, "we come upon you by surprise; are
you sufficiently prepared for us?"

The Superintendent declared that his department was read