Norman Benedict had reached the office of the Trumpet in time to add a startling feature to the ten o’clock “extra” of that enterprising journal. A long cable despatch from Rexopolis, announcing the death of King Sergius III., the vain clamorings of the people for the appearance of his successor, the still popular Prince Carlo, and the certainty of an immediate choice by the populace of a provisional President, was of itself sufficient to make the “extra” notable. But Benedict had been enabled, by a combination of foresight and good luck, to give the readers of the Trumpet a startling explanation of Prince Carlo’s absence from Rexopolis at this great crisis. On the night upon which Prince Carlo had lost a kingdom, Norman Benedict had gained a promotion.
Gerald Strong and his wife had sat in their library late that evening, wondering why Ned and Kate had not returned, when the butler brought in to them the late edition of a newspaper whose startling head-lines seemed to tremble with excitement. They had barely finished reading the astounding details of a pregnant international crisis, when the arrival of the carriage that bore to their door a dethroned king, a fatherless youth, upon whose shoulders rested a great burden demanding an heroic sacrifice, broke in upon their conversation.
While the somewhat disjointed explanations of the truants were doing their utmost to add to the confusion of Mrs. Strong’s mind, her husband had taken Prince Carlo by the hand, and, telling Ned to accompany them, had led the guest he had known as Count Szalaki into the library.
“I have read the whole story,” said the banker, when they found themselves alone. “You have suffered a great wrong, Prince Carlo. You have my heartfelt sympathy.”
He took the young man’s hand, and continued, very gently, “I have sad news for you.”
Prince Carlo gazed at him with eyes that were full of agony.
“He is dead?”
“Yes,” answered Gerald Strong. “He died this afternoon.”
A change came over the face of the son of kings. The dread certainty that confronted him seemed to affect him like a call to arms. He stood more erect, the lines around his mouth grew firm, and his voice was cold and hard, as he said:
“Mr. Strong, may I ask you to tell me all that you have heard?”