The Case of the Threatened King by Robert Newman

Author:Robert Newman
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781497685994
Publisher: Open Road Media

13

The Young King

“What day is today?” asked Maria.

Sara, painstakingly writing another note, did not look up.

“Wednesday.”

“I don’t think so. I think it’s Thursday.”

Finishing the note, Sara did look up. Maria was reading Raphael’s Almanac, the battered and torn Prophetic Messenger and Weather Guide that she had found in one of the bureau drawers.

“I think it’s Wednesday, but what difference does it make?”

“All the difference in the world,” said Maria. “If today’s Wednesday, then according to Raphael’s Everyday Guide, we should avoid letters and writing and keep quiet. But if it’s Thursday, then today is a most auspicious day and we will accomplish all that we’ve set our hearts on.”

“I still say it doesn’t make any difference.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t believe any of that stuff, and even if I did, it wouldn’t matter because the book’s three years old.”

“You don’t believe it?”

“No.”

“I’m surprised at you. There are three or four pages of Raphael’s predictions here that came true.”

“Like what?”

“Well, in the issue before this one he said that February was a dangerous time for travelling, and on February fourteenth there was a train wreck in New Jersey in the United States and seven people were killed and many injured.”

“Oh, me! Oh, my!” said Sara ironically.

“You don’t think that proves it?”

“No. But even if I did think so, I ask you again what good it’ll do when the book’s three years old?”

“Why should that make a difference?”

“Because the stars are different each year, so that whatever they stand for will be different.”

“Oh. Well, maybe. I was just looking for something to make us feel better.”

“Well, maybe this will.” And she gave Maria the note she had written with her crude pen and homemade ink on another blank page from the Bible.

“To whom it may concern,” it said. “Take this note to Count Michael Milanovitch at the Serbian Embassy, Claverton Street, and he will give you a handsome reward. Maria Milanovitch and Sara Wiggins.”

“How much would you say was a handsome reward?” asked Maria. “Five pounds? Ten?”

“I’ll leave that to your father. Outside of that do you think it’s all right?”

“Oh, yes. Fine,” said Maria, giving it back to her.

“All right, then,” said Sara. And wrapping the paper around a knob she had unscrewed from the chest of drawers, she tied it with another strip of cloth torn from her petticoat. Then, opening the west window this time and gauging the distance carefully, she threw it and had the satisfaction of seeing it clear the edge of the roof and drop down toward the wide street at the end of the alley.

There were two constables stationed outside the door of the Serbian embassy when Andrew and Wyatt went there this time. One of them must have known Wyatt, for he saluted immediately, and after a whispered word, the other followed suit. Andrew glanced at Wyatt as he rang the bell. Though they had cleaned up and left their oilskin jackets at the pub, they still looked rather raffish, for they were both wearing old clothes and Wellingtons.

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