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prove their authenticity?"
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"There is the writing."
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"Pooh, pooh! Forgery."
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"My private note-paper."
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"Stolen."
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"My own seal."
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"Imitated."
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"My photograph."
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"Bought."
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"We were both in the photograph."
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"Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an
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indiscretion."
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"I was mad--insane."
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"You have compromised yourself seriously."
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"I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now."
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"It must be recovered."
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"We have tried and failed."
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"Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought."
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"She will not sell."
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"Stolen, then."
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"Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked her
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house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice she has
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been waylaid. There has been no result."
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"No sign of it?"
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"Absolutely none."
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Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he.
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"But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully.
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"Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the photograph?"
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"To ruin me."
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"But how?"
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"I am about to be married."
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"So I have heard."
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"To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the King
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of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her family. She
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is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a doubt as to my
|
conduct would bring the matter to an end."
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"And Irene Adler?"
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"Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I know
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that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul of
|
steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and the mind
|
of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry another
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woman, there are no lengths to which she would not go--none."
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"You are sure that she has not sent it yet?"
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"I am sure."
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"And why?"
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"Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the
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betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday."
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"Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That is
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very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to look
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into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in London
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for the present?"
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"Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the
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Count Von Kramm."
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"Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress."
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"Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety."
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"Then, as to money?"
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"You have carte blanche."
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"Absolutely?"
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