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V 4 ^-v} V\A 1 •** -V *H*>~ > CKC Hi^p^p^pwwpl^ ? . Vf _ '- * \ > * »". - . « " . v > ^V,I „ L :•* , £« . ' v . • > « , c«cc>>.*r: a jOv -" f '-* ^»Vc"' ' «*• 'K V.^--^--^*' i^; -\;^rr,^.'^ fe- M'HENRY PLATNT)EALERr M'HENRY, ILL. * • Secrets of the Courts of Europe An Old Ambassador's Revelations of the Inner History of Famous Episodes pi ̂ Heretofore Cloaked in Mystery Chronicled by ALLEN UPWARD ^"2P fair, and, armed with this document, I took my leave. "My first aten was to invent a dig- A S T O L E N K I N G ; .• I'"lt is a pity>" remarked the ambas- iador to rue, as we sat sipping his ^cellency's very choice cognac after dinner, "that there 1s no one who can "write the secret history of Europe for the last few decades." But, M. I'Ambassadeur,"--we were ir s>' 5£V* "Vf.^ .V J?-.;; -Up, , • « v f. • >iv v ^MM0z s &b":. rWiSfiS [; ' .<n \ -t •; •' ~ "V fey-}~ " fW*' " K: •rot :»%£r m 7-„< . - > . % • .... . •' " '.w, ' J&i K1: ii".*' fa Paris--"surely it is impossible for any event of. real importance to remain concealed?" "Not In the least, my dear sir. I trtll give you an instance.' You re- member that supposed illness long ago of the king of Spain, then but a child? Sis young majesty was no more ill at - tfeat time thaa^you and I are at this fepur. Alfonso XIII had been stolen!" And, lighting a fresh cigar, the am- iNuas&dor proceeded to give m© the fol­ lowing astonishing narrative: "It was several years ago, as you will recollect, that the press of Eu­ rope was filled with reports of a mys­ terious illness from which this young monarch was said to be suffering. This malady was described as being of a highly infectious character, though not exactly dangerous. At the same time the world was called upon to admire the maternal solicitude of the queen- regent, who, it was said, in order to nurse her Bon, had shut herself up in apartments, with only two attend­ ants, refraining from all Intercourse With the rest of the palace while the critical period lasted. The only other persons who were permitted to have access to the sickroom, besides the physician in attendance, were Father Oliva, the king'* tutor, and Senor Gaastala, at that time prime minister of Spain. / '"In the meantime* what had really happened was this: "On the day before these reports be­ gan to appear--which was, I think, a Monday--a grand review of the troops forming the Madrid garrison was to come off in the city park. The review was in honor of Saint Jago, the patron saint of Spain, and it had been pub­ licly announced that the young king would be present, together with his mother, the queen-regent. It was, in effect, to be an imposing celebration, and all Madrid was expected to be there. On the very morning of the re­ view, however, a letter came to the palace, addressed to her majesty, and marked urgent On being opened this letter was found to contain the alarm- Ins intelligence that there was a plot on foot to attempt the king's life. The anonymous writer went on to add thai the conspirators hoped to carry out their design during his majesty's pres- ice at the review.' This letter bore the postmark ot Pamplona. "Her majesty showed this letter to Father Oliva, In whom she reposed great confidence; and, as was natural, they decided to keep the king at home, giving out as a pretext that he was anwelL The regent accordingly set out to the review without him, taking, Instead, his elder sister, the princess of Asturias. Alfonso was greatly dis­ appointed, but they succeeded in paci­ fying him by the promise of a huge box of lead soldiers, a toy which has always given him supreme delight. ' "As soon as the queen was gone, Wether Oliva took the king into his study, and commenced to give him his lessons as usual. An hour passed in. this way. "At the end of this time a closed car­ riage drove up at a furious rate to the principal entrance of the palace, and there alighted a person in the uni­ form of a general officer, attended by an aide-de-camp. This personage, who appeared to labor under considerable excitement, announced himself to the porters in waiting as General Espinosa. He stated that he had been sent by the queen-regent to fetch the king to the review, and demanded to be taken Immediately into his majesty's pres­ ence. "Thoroughly overwhelmed by the manner of these officers, the lackeys hastened to conduct them to the room where the tutor and pupil were at work. Here, as soon as the servants had withdrawn, the general repeated $ls statements, adding to Father Oliva that the troops had shown grave symp­ toms of dissatisfaction at the king's absence, and that serious consequences Were apprehended if he were not im­ mediately forthcoming. "You can well understand that in Upain, the land of pronunciamentos, Where the army has so long been ac­ customed to regard itself as the mas­ ter of the government, and is always teething with sedition, such intelli­ gence was not to be trifled with. The general's uniform and the presence of the aide lent an air of reality to the Story; and, in short, the priest appears to have been completely taken off his jguard. *•>.!> "No doubt it would have been more prudent on his part to have insisted on . accompanying his pupil. But the sud­ denness of these men's arrival, and the alarming character of their state­ ments, deprived him of his usual pres ence of mind. He sent for the child's hat, and allowed him to depart with the emissaries. The king himself, it !• needless to say of a mere boy, was inly too eager to go. He is daring aB gi| lion, and to him shyness is absolute­ ly unknown. "The next thing that happened was 4}ie return of the queen-regent, at the close of the review. She sent to the tuto£ to bring Alfbnso to her. Con- -;|punded at stub a message, he hurried ..Into her majesty's presence, and at ttnce the truth was discovered. There Jb&d been no discontent among the %Y>ops, and no sending for the king. He toad become the victim of a cleverly i-planned abduction.. , "Figure to yourself the despair of Queen Christina. But even in such moment* royal personages are not freed from considerations of state. Before taking any steps, it was neces­ sary to advise with the prime minis­ ter, , "A messenger was at once dis­ patched to fetch him to the palace. Senor Gaustala lost no time In obey­ ing the summons, and the facts were laid beforfe him. "It was by his Imperative advice that it was decided to keep the affair secret as long as possible. In the un­ settled state of the Spanish kingdom, with a dynasty hardly yet seated on the throne, and threatened by repub­ licans on one side and legitimists on the other, the news that the king had been spirited away might very well be the signal, as you may imagine, for a revolution. "It was therefore that this coinedy of a pretended illness was devised. With the exception of two old, trusted servants, every one was strictly ex­ cluded from the king's apartments, in which it was given out that he was lying ill, and Queen Christina arranged to take up her own quarters there, to escape the prying eyes of her suite. On his part, Senor Guastala undertook to bind one of the court physicians to secrecy, and induce him to attend at regular intervals, and issue the usual bulletins. "At the same time the police weie warned that an abduction had taken place, and furnished with a general description of the carriage, and of its three occupants. The railways were watched, the frontiers guarded, in short, the usual precautions were taken. Unfortunately it was consid­ ered unsafe to describe the missing boy too plainly for fear of his identity becoming known. "The porters who had seen the car­ riage drive away were also questioned with caution, but beyond the mere statement that they had seen his majesty enter the carriage with the officers, no information of any value was elicited from them. "The exertions of the police during four days were entirely fruitless. The Spaniards are a fine race with many admirable traits, but they lack the French quickness. . But for the acci­ dent of my presence in the capital, it is difficult to say what would have be­ come of the Spanish monarchy. Luck­ ily I chanced to be In Madrid at that time. "The moment f heard that the king had been taken ill, I went to call at the palace. During the period of my connection wiltr^our euibaasy in Mad­ rid I had become greatly attached to this delightful youngster, with his superb airs ot a king; and 1 think 1 had had the honor to attract the re­ gard of his majesty;' 1 went, therefore, confidently expecting that my visit would be welcomed by the little In­ valid. Judge of my surprise when found myself denied admittance to the sickroom. I came away, cursing the ingratitude of princes. "But you are aware of my character I am not easily to be baffled In a de sign which I have once undertaken That very day I telegraphed to Paris to Emile Gerault et Cie., of the Rue Luxembourg, to forward me the most splendid toy in their warehouse. "On the fourth day It arrived. It was a marvel--a work of art. Imagine a soldier, completely accoutred in the uniform of a Chasseur d'Afrique, with everything removable, downv to the very spurs, and mounted upon a fas­ cinating camel, which drove itself by clockwork! I packed my treasure In a cab and. took it round Instantly to the palace. As I had anticipated, I was again refused entrance into Alfonso's pres­ ence. Thereupon I demanded an audi­ ence of the queen regent. Daunted by my firmness, the attendants gave way, and consented to take in my card to her majesty. I ventured to Inscribe on it the word, 'Pressing.' "Doubtless, in her Immense grief, the queen was ready to clutch at any straw which might promise assistance. She agreed to receive me in the room adjoining the king's bedchamber. "You know those Hapsburgs. In the midst of her terrible sufferings Chris­ tina preserved the haughtiness of her family. She omitted to accord me the privilege of being seated. " 'What is it that you desire to see me about, M. le Baron?' she demand­ ed, addressing me in the French lan­ guage. " 'Surely the king Is not too ill to be amused with this toy,' I ventured to say. "1 Implore you to let me offer it to my young friend.' "Queen Christina made no reply turned towards her, trembling, j was astonished to see tears in her 1 eyes. " 'Pardon, madame, what have done?' I exclaimed, in consternation. '"You have done nothing, M. le Baron, that is not worthy of your ad mlrable heart,' the queen was good enough to answer. 'It would be un grateful to keep up this deception with you any longer. Alfonso cannot re­ ceive your touching gift, because he is not in the palace. My son was kid­ naped four days ago.' "I was thunderstruck by. this news: Her majesty then Invited me to be seated, and told me the whole of the circumstances, exactly as. I have re­ lated them to you. As soon as the recital was finished I rose to my feet. "'Madame,' I said, with lmpressive- ness, 'leave this affair in my hands. Give me five days, and I undertake to recover my young playmate from the clutches of these assassins/ "My assurances appeared to satisfy her majesty. She then condescended to sign a paper investing me with full powers to take what steps I deemed necessary la the conduct of the af- guise., After much thought I decided to assume the character of ac English doctor. I produced a card and in­ scribed it with the name of Dr. Harry Brown of the Institute of Doctors, Lon­ don. "It should have been College of Phy­ sicians," I objected. The ambassador shrugged his shoul­ ders and gave me a pitying glance. "That Is so like you English, with your insular egoism," he observed, sadly. "Do you suppose that anyone in Madrid knew or cared whether your doctors called their building a college or an institute?" I prudently refrained from replying to this challenge; and the ambassador presently took another sljp from his glass and went on: ' "You ask yourself why I choee to be­ come an English doctor. I will tell yon. It Is well known that there is a streak of insanity running through your nation, which renders them the most eccentric people In the world. As an Englishman it would excite no re mark that I should take the extraor­ dinary measures which I proposed to myself. -I had observed this in con­ nection with the extraordinary affair of the ruby of Bhuraui, in which the late king cl Holland was concerned-- I will tell you about it another time. Moreover, as a doctor, I had an excuse for my presence in the palace. I could announce that I was Investigating the cause of th6 king's attack. "My next step was to Interview Father Oliva, the tutor, a dreary man, who concealed the most intense stu­ pidity under an appearance of great craft. I found him In the room from which Alfonso had been carried off. He had known me formerly, and ex­ hibited much surprise on learning of my assumed character. I made him repeat to me the details of the abduc­ tion, and then asked to see the most recent photograph of his pupil. "The father produced a handsome portrait, taken within the last few weeks. The king's face, as you are aware, Is a very striking one. The features are noble and defiant, the eyes large and brilliant. "Has this portrait' been widely cir­ culated?' I asked. 'Is the man In the street familiar with it?' " 'Certainly,' the priest answered. 'It has figured In all the shop windows. The king's portraits are always very popular. There Is scarcely a cabin in Spain where you will not see some­ thing, if It is only an almanac, with the likeness of Alfonso XIII.' " 'So much the better; It makes it "'Did you notice bow the king was looking when be w®Qt out?' I de­ manded. . . n«e questioning one ventured to majesty's face, ie had a chill, for up.' "I saw thenTelf! glances. At lengt respond. "'I didn't see senor. But I fancy be was well wrapp^1 "'So? A«<1 d'd ntyie of you observe anything else unuaial?' "One of the othej two looked as if he were hesitating jo speak. I turned a penetrating look cfc him. " 'Now you reiniid me, senor,' he said, respectfully, j think there was something wrong with his majesty. I don't think, he wajked quite firmly, and he didn't hold fcimself up in the same way as usual-i I was satisfied, Jand led the way back into the pa' Father Oliva. He know what was in to find the good however, I excused anything then, an< more explicit later ' "As we were ret an awkward door opened ce, followed by s very curious to mind. I began ther wearisome; yself frpm saying promised to be n. nlng to his room irfcid<fxt took place. A at a j»b.ort distance Sn front of us, and a ifian came out, who bowed to my companion. " 'That is Doctor Henarez, who is at­ tending the palace *lief,' he whispered in ray ear. 'Shall I present you to him?' J "'The devil, npi?; I replied in con­ sternation. 'He w&tld inquire about the faculty in Lonjloa, and penetrate my disguise directly.' or gotten that you ittered this simple allowed the physi- t speaking, though casting inquisitive " 'True; I had were disguised,' m creature. And we cian to pass withoi I observed him looks at me. "I asked if the look were a.fellow countryman of n r own, and was amazed to learn tfc it this was not the case. It was incor eivable to me that a Spaniard should nderstand the cull- nary art, and I ol erved as much to my companion. " 'Yet I can assu i you that his Cook­ ery is very much esteemed,' hey an­ swered, smiling, '1 no less a person than the king of |paln. If my pupil had been really 1191 should have put it down to Senor A>mez, his tarts are so much in demai( in the nursery.' made himself 'Has he been believe. It Is' to cover by the tim«j back, or the kin ressed.' y to the worthy being absorbe He seems ill Instead,' I ret laid up long? 'About a wee e hoped he will is majesty com will be terribly I ceased to father's conversa i W i md ine ul Rfgrst That Whst You Ask Is Impossible. The King Is Too ill to R* eeive Even the Most .Intimate of His Friends." all the more difficult for the conspira­ tors to carry ou* their plans. It is in­ credible that they should have been able to carry him through the streets of the capital in broad daylight with­ out recognition. I must see the serv­ ants who were present when the car­ riage drove off.' 'The father hesitated." "Are you not afraid «i arousing their suspicions?' he asked. 'Remem­ ber that they suppose the king re* turned in safety.' "I never permit myself to be dis­ courteous to an ecclesiastic. As you know, I have no religion except France and my honor. But I respect the church. Priests, in my opinion, are a class whom it is cowardly to affront, and I was not willing to be rude to the good father. Neverthe­ less his-remark annoyed mf. 44 'Her majesty the queen regent has been good enough to confide fully in my discretion,' I said to him. 'I beg that you will do the same. Where are these men?' "He murmured his excuses, and led the way down to the main entrance. On the way I remarked: ^ " 'I do not see many persons about' '"No, M. le Baron; there seldom are at this time of day.' "A thought struck me.. I consulted my watch. " 'At what time was the king carried off?' " 'About this time, I think,' was the answer. 'Do you consider that any thing turns on that?' ;v. J " 'If* reduces the numbei**i*f Wlt- nesses,' I replied, evasively. •• "By this time we, were at the en­ trance/ where we found a number of lackeys. The father presented me to them. " 'The doctor Is seeking for lnformar tion as to the source of the king's ill iieee,' he explained. 'Which of you saw his majesty get into the carriage to gold the review?' "Three of the men stepped forward, evidently surprised. I gave-t^o; *n» time to Invent falsehoods/ In considering my next move. As soon as we were again in his room I requested him to send for the steward of the household. "He complied, not without several delicate attempts <x> elicit my motive for this step. But he was dealing with an old diplomatist, You will readily believe that ho elicited exactly what I desired him to. * "On the Bteward's appearance, I re­ peated the explanation of my pretend­ ed mission. I also exhibited the pow­ ers furnished me by the queen regent, so as to stifle at once any possible ob­ jection to my demands. I then gave him these instructions? " 'In the first place, I require you to examine the servants stationed at the various entrances tQ the palace, and to draw up a full report, showing all the persons who have entered or left the building within the last ten days, with the times of their coming and going. You will tQake this report as accurate as possitile. Secondly, you wyi at once station a special agent at each of these entrances, with instruc­ tions to allow no one, whatever his position or business, to enter or leave the palace, without first communicat­ ing with me, and obtaining my sana­ tion.' "The steward b<&ed. " 'Do these orders'apply to the kitch­ en entrance, by wiUch the supplies of the palace are received, senor?' " 'They apply especially to that en­ trance. There is no more fruitful source of contagion;,than fo°d> particu­ larly milk.' ^ "The steward #as evidently Im­ pressed by this observation, which 1 flatter myself was aot without ingenu- ity. " 'And they app$y equally to the servants of the tt&lace, I suppose, seno: V g " To every manjS woman and child in Spain, with tbe exception oi the queen regent and tj|ie prime minister.' "The steward w^p a sensible man. He asked no furthd parted to carry out questions, but de­ bts Instructions. "During the next hour I sat In the tutor's room, receiving continual mes­ sages with respect to the various per­ sons who sought toi\come in or out. In each case I gave my consent. Finally the steward returned, bringing his re­ port, a most admirable paper, which would have done credit to any chancel­ lery In Europe. The name and, In most cases, the business of every vis­ itor had been noted down with scrupu­ lous care. I read the report through, and a mist came over my eyes. " 'You have done your work magnifi­ cently, senor,' I said to the steward. 'I am now going to show this document to therqueen. Should anyone want to enter the palace while I am with her majesty, be sure to let me know.' "I dismissed him, and made my way with ill-suppressed agitation to the royal apartments, where I was instant­ ly admitted. I handed the report to her majesty, and desired her to look through it,' dnd see if it contained astf- thing worthy of remark. She complied with my request, but observed noth­ ing. I then ventured to put a ques­ tion: " 'I should be grateful If your majes­ ty could recollect' any incident, how­ ever trivial, during the last few days before the king's disappearance, which might throw light on 4he means of persuasion employed by his abduc­ tors.' "Queen Christina appeared slightly puzzled. " 'Persuasion? I do not follow you, M. le Baron. Surely that was not the method employed?' "'Think, madame. The king must have very speedily discovered that his companions were not taking him to the review; he Is a boy of high spirit, It Is incredible that he should have made no struggle, no outcries which would have attracted attention.' "'In other words--V " 'In other words, wherever the king has gone to, he must, in the first In­ stance, have gone willingly.' "The queen looked dismayed, and shook her head doubtfully. " 'Think again, madame. Did any­ thing occur to excite the king during the last few days? Children sometimes have strange ideas; they desire to leave their homes, to imitate Robinson Crusoe, to become bandits--' "The queen suddenly looked up. " 'There is one thing which perhaps I ought to mention to you, though the recollection is painful at this time. My son Was very much put out with me shortly before this terrible event. It was on account of the dismissal of the chief cook, whom the steward had de­ tected In gross dishonesty. This man, it appears, had a nephew, a child of about the king's own age, who had contrived to ingratiate himself with Alfonso, and through this nephew Go­ mez had got a petition into the king's hands, praying that his fault might be overlooked. Of course I had to refuse the petition, and Alfonso was bitterly aggrieved.' "'Enough, madame!' I had begun, when, we were interrupted by the ar­ rival of the steward. I begged the queen to admit him. "'You asked me to let you know, senor, If anyone desired to enter the palace, and I therefore thought It ray duty to come to you, though It Is only the case of a child.' " 'What child?' I asked as calmly as I could. " 'Pedrlllo Gomes, the cook's nephew, who has come to visit his uncle.' "'He cannot be admitted for the present,' I said sternly. 'Detain him In your room till you hear from me.' "The steward was plainly oonfound- ed. But he discreetly refrained from any reply, and withdrew to fulfill my directions. " 'Surely that Is a rather harsh step,' remonstrated Queen Christina, s " 'Madame,' I replied, with the ut- most good humor, 'the child who has just f,ome to the palace is some impos­ tor. He is not Pedrillo Gomez at all.' "The queen looked at me as If I had just claimed omniscience. " 'How can you say that, M. le Baron?' " 'Simply by referring to the report in your majesty's hand. You will see from it that the cook's nephew entered the palace last Monda^ morning at eight o'clock, and that he haB never left it since. Consequently, the child »t the door must be some one else.' "I could see her begin to tremble. "'Speak! What do you mean?' " 'I mean this, madame, that where­ as I formerly asked for five days in which to bring your son to you, I now ask for five minutes. I am going to interview the true Pedrillo, the Pedril­ lo who has been concealed In the cook's apartment for the last four dp.ys.' "I darted from her presence, and made my way straight through the building to the door from which I had seen Doctor Henarez emerge. I rapped, and a man's voice inquired: "'Is that you, Pedrillo?' "At the same time a bolt was with­ drawn from Inside, and the door partly opened. I slipped through, and walked into the middle of the chamber. The cook, a huge man, with as villainous a face as I have ever seen, eyed me like a tiger as I coolly took possession of his sitting room. No Pedrillo was anywhere to be seen. " 'Who are you, senor?' the man stammered out. "'I am a doctor,' I responded, with the most friendly air In the world, feeling at the same time in the hip pocket, where doctors usually carry their medicine cases. 'I have been called in by another patient, and, hear­ ing that' you were 111, the queen regent graciously desired me to place my skill at your disposal.* " 'But, Senor Doctor, I do not need your services,' he muttered, terribly embarrassed, aB he well might be, for the fellow was in perfect health. 'I have my own doctor.' "'Nonsense,' I replied, 'an extra opinion can do you no harm. Besides, her majesty's commands must be obeyed. Let me feel your pulse.' "I took it in my hand before he could object. It was beating at a tremen­ dous rate. " 'I see clearly what Is the matter with you,' I said, 'You are suffering from want of fresh air. Instead of be­ ing shut up in these two rooms--I sup­ pose that is the door of your bedroom? r-you ought to be out In the grounds. Let me advise you to put on your hat at once, and come out. I will give you my arm.' "The wretch sank into a chahr.-- " 'Indeed, senor, I am too ill to |M moved. Tomorrow, perhaps.' " 'You make a mistake,' I retorted, interrupting him. 'I assure you these rooms are unhealthy. Let me see your bedroom.' "While I spoke I went up and turned the handle of the door. As I had an­ ticipated, It was locked. Gomez sprang towards me with flashing eyes. 1 did not hesitate a moment. " 'Sit down, Senor Gomez, if you please, or I will shoot you like a dog.' And I snatched out my revolver and leveled It at his breast. "He sank hack, shuddering. I turned the key, and opened the bedroom door." The ambassador stopped deliberate­ ly, struck a match and carefully relit his cigar, which had gone out. I did not dare to speak. * : "There," he said, sending out a great puff of smoke--"there, seated on the floor, amid a disorganized army of leaden troops, his hands black with dirt, his hair rough like a dog's, and his charming lips all smeared with, jam, I beheld his majesty the king of Spain, calmly devouring one of his fa­ vorite tarts." "And after?" Z said; as the ambassa­ dor again came to a full stop. / "And after? Why, is there anything more? I caught up the young rascal In my arms, king or no king, and made two steps of it to where his mother was waiting. Do not ask me to de­ scribe that scene. $uch emotions are sacred." I firmly believe that the ambassador was actually moved. I was silent for a moment. "I am not quite sure that I have fol­ lowed all the steps by which you ar­ rived at your discovery," I said pres­ ently. "My friend, you cannot have bees listening. Did I. not tell you at the out­ set that the boy ieft his tutor's room with only a hat on? The moment I heard of the wraps I perceived that something must have taken place dur­ ing the passage through those desert­ ed corridors. When I found that no one had seen the face of the boy who entered the carriage, and that his walk and bearing were different from the king's the whole plot was clear. The conspirators, afraid to risk carry­ ing the young monarch through the streets of his own capital, had disposed of him in the palace on the way out, and carried away another boy to cre­ ate a false scent. "The scheme was clever enough. The moment I had realized the charac­ ter of the plot, it only remained to dis­ cover whether the king had been taken out of the building since, and, if not, with whom he < was likely to be con­ cealed. At the same time I took pre­ cautions against his slipping through my fingers while I was engaged in the search." "The coqlt, X suppose, made * full confession?? "I had left him very little to con- fees. It appeared that he had been the chief contriver of the plot, in revenge for his own dismissal. He had got two accomplices from outside, one of them that doctor, who was as great an Im­ postor as I was myself. "They elaborated their plans with a good deal of ingenuity. Gomez began feigning illness several days before the reylew, and made his nephew come to and fro continually, so that his appear­ ance ceased to excite remark. Then they dispatched the warning through Pamplona, and lay in wait. "The king was, of course, brought straight from the tutor's preBencp into the cook's apartment, and exchanged for Pedrillo, and all that remained was for Gomez to keep the child pris­ oner, by force or persuasion, till they cguld contrive to smuggle him out of the way unobserved. The idea of ob­ taining the ransom while the captive was still in his own palace was a brilliant afterthought." "They were not punished?" "No; it would have been unwise. They were Informed that if they ever referred to their exploit they would be put on trial for high treason, and they seem to have held their tongues. Of course the fiction of the Illness was kept up to the^end, and the king's con­ valescence duly announced. "What pleased me most in the af­ fair was the vindication of my friend Don Carlos. Queen Christina was good enough to express regret to me for having allowed her suspicions to rest on his followers. She also expressed herself very .handsomely about the trifling part I had been able to play in the affair--very handsomely In­ deed." : The ambassador paused, and ap peered to be hesitating whether to say anything more. At last he added: , "When I finally took my leave the queen drew a magnificent ring from her own finger and presented it to me. " 'For the service you have rendered to the queen regent of Spain my prime minister will thank you,' she said. 'For that which you have rendered to the mother of Alfonso, she begs you to accept this souvenir.'" He glanced at a very fine diamond on his hand and, I thought, sighed. "Have you the ring there?" I asked. His excellency shook his head. "That ring is no longer in my posses­ sion. I parted with it under certain delicate circumstances which I must beg that you will not ask me to ex­ plain." I saw that I was on the verge ot an­ other indiscretion, and prudently changed the subject .11 My host accompanied! me to thef outer gate of his hotel. The night air was heavy with the perfume of orange trees, standing In green tubs around the courtyard. ' "You will reBpect what I have told you tonight In the moet sacred confi­ dence," he said, as he pressed lpy hand at parting. "Of what do you think me capable?'* I returned in my best manner. "A journalist is capable of every­ thing. iSwear to me that if you re­ peat this story my name shall not transpire!" "M. rAmbassadeur!" "Good. I shall judge of your discre­ tion by the time you come again." (Copyrighted In U, jL and Great BritalaJ LENTIL'S GREAT VALUE V*«tTABt-l CONTAINS' HffliH 4* ORES OF NUTRITION*- ' '• ' |k •aked and Served With Nuts and To­ matoes, It Is Probably at Its Best • Good Omelet for Lunoh* V eon or Supper. „ Lantlls baked with a few chopp^l nuts and tomatoes make a dish with more value than meat. After a pint of lentils have been soaked, drain and cover them with fresh water and boll until the skins crack. Place them in a shallow baking pan, mixing them with a halt pound of Brazil nuts whlefe have been peeled and chopped fine* sprinkle over two teaBpoonfuls of salt; cover with strained tomatoes and bak* for two hours. Lentil cutlets make an excellent dte» ner dish. J^epare a quart of lentfla by washing and placing; in a granite saucepan with a quart of cold water, a teaspoonful of lemon Juice, two small onions, four whole cloves, threat red peppers, a teaspoonful of salt and a bunch of herbs--Including plenty of parsley. Gover and cook over a mod* er&ta fire until the water Has been sorb 3d and the lentils are soft, bet, not pulpy. Take out the hertyp, onions and cloves and mix with In* lentils half a pound of fresh mush* rooms previously cooked In their own liquor and slightly flavored with maca --set aside the liquor of the mush' rooms for gravy. Add to lentil and mushroom mixture two tablespoonfuls of red currant jelly, a dessertspoonfttl of meat or vegetable extract, a little red pepper and some celery salt. Add unbeaten eggs, one or two at a time, until the mixture is well bound to* gether. Then bruBh with egg, coat with brown breadcrumbs, after shap* Jng into a cutlet, and fry in deep fat •With the cutlet serve a well-seasoned brown gravy, using the mushroom liquid as foundation, and adding at the last moment another small spooft* ful of currant Jelly. Lentil omelet is a splendid luncheon or supper dish. Wash three tab!#* spoonfuls of lentils, then cook them in salted water. Melt a tablespoonfal of butter in a saucepan, fry in it a peeled chopped shallot, add the drained lentils and fry a few minutes. Moisten with three tablespoonfuls of brown sauce, season with salt and pepper and keep hot. Break six eggs and beat them up well with two table- Bpoonfuls of cream, Beason and pour Into an omelet pan containing soma melted butter: When the omelet be­ gins to set spread the lentils over It and fold over. A little tomato saueo may be poured around the base of the dish if desired. Cheese baked with lentils makes * substantial and easily prepared disl Prepare "the lentils as for the cut before the mushrooms are added and sprinkle several layers of grated cheese Into the baking dish betweea the layers of lentils:. On the top put thick slices of ripe tomatoes or cover well with canned ones. Over them sprinkle finely chopped parsley knd dot the whole with small pieces of butter. Bake quickly and serve hot with or without gravy. In Germany one eats lentils thla way: Wash two cupfuls of lentils, soak over night, drain and cover them and one onion with boiling water and cook until tender, but not broken. Melt two tablespoonfuls of butter In a frying pan, stir in two tablespoon* fuls of flour and cook until brown; then add two onions, chopped fine, three tablespoonfuls of vinegar and two tablespoonfuls of the water the lentils were cooked in, Btir untiKboll* Ing, add the drained lentils with salt and pepper as needed and a grating of nutmeg. Turn into a double boiler and cook slowly for 15 minutes. Serve surrounded with cress. > Baked Brown Bread. One cupful rolled oats; pour over one pint of boiling water and let staaA one hour. Then add one-half cupftt! tuolsssss, one teaspoonful salt, one tap blespoonful butter, half yeast cake dh* solved in one-half cupful water. Makis stiff batter, adding one cupful graham flour and Uie rest white flour. Malm stiff as you can stir. To be set ov«r •-f-. 'V-. , '• k' V ' 2̂ ? --^-pr. • Vegetable Ratfbtrt Put one cupful each sliced turnlpa, potatoes and carrots into boiling WSr ter. Cook till tender. Melt two ta> blespoonfuls of butter in another pan, stir into it one-half cupful of minced onion and fry brown. Add two table* spoonfuls browned flour and gradu* ally one pint of hot water. Whea smooth turn contents of saucepan into it, season to taste with salt and pep­ per, cook slowly 30 minuteB, dish and serve. Just before sending to table sprinkle a tablespoonful of fflincflfl parsley over, . - " ' Drop Gingerbread. : Beat to a cream one half cupful af bi^own sugar and one-half cupful of butter or lard that has been softened.- Add two well rbeaten eggs, one cupfid of molasses, two teaspoonfuls of clnna> mon, a tablespoonful of ginger, half a cupful of sour milk with a teaspoon* ful of soda beaten in, and, lastly* three cupfuls of flour. Cover the bet* torn of a dripping pan with buttereS < paper, drop the dough on in Bpoonfuls^ giving the cakes ample room to rise and bajte- a rich brown in a oven. ' •ave. the Yolka.' '"W^n, as frequently happens,'" tSa whites of several eggs are UBed, and there is no Immediate use for the yolks, they can be kept fresh for set1* eral days by dropping them in a cup carefully and then Covering them gen$> ly (so as not to break the, delioata skin), with cold water; change tlia, water dally. - ""'**;•- ' .J ' When Warming Over The best way to warm up a roast of meat is to wrap it in thickly greased paper, and keep it covered while in the eves. By having it covered the steam will prevent the meat from b*. coming hard and dry, and it will oome heated through la less time. ^ ^ lWf s£" Wo , > • j h ./twJ v&v