"My dear Count, it is easily seen that you come from the depths of Africa. Otherwise you would know that the diamond is hidden in the private apartments of the King—nobody knows where, not even the Queen. You may easily divine the uneasiness of the people and the advantage the affair gives to Prince Gudulfin."
Juve now felt that the King was still in Paris. The problem thus far had become clearer. But under what conditions was he living? It was quite possible that he had been kidnapped by some person who knew of the diamond's existence.
While pondering these matters, Juve had unconsciously wandered away from the salon and now found himself in the ante-room on the ground floor. Here he came face to face with Mme. Heberlauf, who was accompanied by a white-haired old man whom she at once introduced.
"Count de Juff, let me present the Dean of the Court, the Burgomaster of Rung Cassel ..."
"The deuce!" thought Juve, "a bore, by the look of him!"
Escape was hopeless, the Burgomaster seized the detective by the arm and announced:
"I am the author of a work in 25 volumes on "The History of the Dark Continent." Now I hear that you have just returned from a journey of exploration in Africa and ..."
The old historian dragged Juve into the Palace gardens and the latter thought:
"Hang it, I couldn't have pitched on a worse introduction, I don't know the first thing about Africa."
But the author of the 25 volumes quickly set him at ease. For he began by admitting that he himself had never set foot out of Glotzbourg.