ows where--fled
and left a dead husband and father, slain like a hero and an Englishman,
fighting for his own, and with his face to the foe. Avenge his death?
Nonsense, declared the old women. He had no right to defy the will of
Heaven, no right to stir up strife with a friendly people and expect his
countrymen to embroil themselves because of his lust for power. It would
be a lasting disgrace to the nation if England allowed a lot of howling,
bloodthirsty meddlers to persuade it to interfere.

"The old women had their way. Queen Karma and her children vanished; her
uncle Duke Sforza came to the throne as Alburtus III., and eight months
ago his son, the present King Ulric, succeeded him. The father had been
a bad king, the son a bad crown-prince. Mauravania has paid the price.
Let her put up with it! I don't think in the light of these things, Mr.
Narkom, there is any wonder that an Englishman finds interest in reading
of the affairs of a country over which an Englishman's son might, and
ought to, have ruled. As for me, I have no sympathy, my friend, with
Mauravania or her justly punished people."

"Still, my dear fellow, that should not count when the reward for taking
up this case is so enormous--and I dare say it will not."

"Reward? Case?" repeated Cleek. "What do you mean by that?"

"That I am here to enlist your services in the cause of King Ulric of
Mauravania," replied Narkom, impressively. "Something has happened,
Cleek, which, if not cleared up before the coronation day--now only one
month hence, as you must have read--will certainly result in his
Majesty's public disgrace, and may result in his overthrow and death!
His friend and chief adviser, Count Irma, has come all the way from
Mauravania, and is at this moment downstairs in this house, to put the
case in your hands and to implore you to help and to save his royal
master!"

"His royal master? The son of the man who drove an Englishman's wife and
an Englishman's children into exile--poverty--misery--despair?" said
Cleek, pulling himself up. "I won't take it, Mr. Narkom! If he offers me
millions, I'll lift no hand to help or to save Mauravania's king!"

The response to this came from an unexpected quarter.

"But to save Mauravania's queen, monsieur? Will you do nothing for her?"
said an excited and imploring voice. And as Cleek, startled by the
interruption, switched round and glanced in the direction of the sound,
the half-dosed door swung inward an