“How did you know the combination?” the Duke asked.
“By—by—watching the King, monsieur ... I had picked up the numbers one by one ... long ago.”
Lotzen tossed him a bit of paper and a pencil.
“Write out the combination,” he ordered—and smiled at the servant’s trembling hand and labored motions.... “Thank you;”—glancing at the paper and dropping it carelessly in his pocket—“proceed—you had just got the Book out of the vault.”
“While I was examining it, monsieur,” Adolph resumed, “I thought I heard the King moving about in his room. I sprang inside the vault, drew the door shut, but not quite tight, and tried to put the Book in the box. But I must have been nervous, monsieur, for, in some way, I struck the lid and knocked it down; and it locked, leaving the book in my hand. I could not open the box—the only key was under the King’s pillow, on his watch chain. What was to be done? I dared not try for it that night; the King was too light a sleeper;—nor did I dare leave the Book in the vault, there was no place to conceal it, and he was sure to go in there in the morning. What was to do, monsieur? I listened—everything seemed quiet; I opened the door very slowly—no one was in the room—I stepped out, and the King’s portrait confronted me—I stared at it a moment, frightened as though it were my master—then, of a sudden, I knew I had found the hiding place, and I sprang up and put the Book behind the picture.... And in the morning, monsieur, I forgot the Book—forgot it until His Majesty had gone to the city.—Then, in desperation, I tried every key I could find—tried to pick the lock—in vain.... I knew the Archduke Armand was to dine here that evening, and from what the King had said to the Princess I knew, also, the Book would have to be in the box before then. I felt, however, that I would have a good chance at the key when my master dressed for dinner. Then, my lord, came the awful news of his death, and once again I forgot the Book—nor ever thought of it, until I saw the Council gather—and then——” he threw up his hand, expressively.
“And, now, what were you about to do?” asked Lotzen.
“Put the Book in the box, monsieur, and return it to its place in the vault.”
The Duke looked at him in surprise.
“Clever, clever, indeed,” he muttered.... “I thought you gave the key to Her Highness.”
Adolph smiled—his spirit was never long in travail. “I did, monsieur—I didn’t need it;—and it was a good play to give it up at once. Never having had the key to the box, it could not be I who replaced the Book.”