I will start my story with an apology to my daily journal readers. Though this account of mine is quite different from medical discoveries, it might clear up many theories and conspiracies regarding the famous case of the English Duke, which has been branded false by some and incredulous by many. As my dear friend Vera says, it is the conspiracy which interests people, far more than the truth. Yet I hope that this story will finally give rest to any other versions of it.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3duPKFTNgP
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0TK4Esnub
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKodTXd7irT
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoeRqgdPao
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjFYSuodJm
It was the afternoon of the 10th of January, a cold and windy day, when I was fixing a patient of mine.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuM263Klf0b
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhkV4i5VBo
"It is cold then, which depresses you?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF3F3LfEuI
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaSsgUlzrz
" Ah, what can I say," my patient began," It is cold. But it is the knee too."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpmhIfMux8
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dpl1Glceq
"Knee?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbG7cc0yB9
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEnrFSM5x2
" Yes. I have been travelling much. From here to there. You comprehend?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltLTbJdoaK
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxJWQPyRxc
I didn't. 471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBB0Zd3oYN
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5dXPTk1Uj
Before I spoke anything, my patient stood up, and for the first time, I was able to see his face that was hidden under his hat earlier.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyK3EaZ97C
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguWAXtaqzm
He had an egg shaped face, a glorious moustache and sparkling eyes. He reminded me of someone I had seen in the papers, but who, that I couldn't tell.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFYIwLoTlc
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxAMw8kktr
"You see mon ami, it is your friend who gave me this knee."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dk1jQs3Eo
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgv1RqJ5U8i
I looked at him. Trying not to laugh at his ridiculous face, I asked, " My friend?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYJS1IUvmz
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhWqUp1OsD
"Oh yes. Vera."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni77TBQIiA
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBAT4WGHDE
"Oh."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLl6OFQUrI
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8ohushby6
Vera. My closest friend. She had a very odd job in this world. But her life was thrilling. Running here and there, chasing after this person and that person - oh what a life.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9PjgVzMrj
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP11Yv2XVAn
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACwk6CFWY2
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkdVGyc6dC
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWRVeCu5IP
The man put his hand in his pocket and clasped his cane with the other. As he turned around, he handed me a letter and bowed, signalling the end of our time and went out of my clinic.
I sat on my chair and gazed out of the door the man had gone out through. There was utter confusion on my face. 471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGgKW0LG9n
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVJuBI09da
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QbcamAguU
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFQ909aG1a
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuFL87muYZ
I unfolded the letter he had brought me. With sceptical eyes, I read:471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyeokkRMMG
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtq3njHRIVV
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMB7XT5LIa
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93iXxKcQ58
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBeOVRbw0P
Dear Jim,471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ktSqQuWAI
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDXqbPtrX9
How are you? I am fine. Listen. Come and meet me on the 27th of this month. I have a very interesting thing for you to look forward to. It might knock you off the chair you are currently sitting in and also change your sceptical look to a look of awe.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZhyMzAGsW
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxPz2CdpQH
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwLIw3UyBX
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3by8ObWzi
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjyj3KlBi8
Yours, Vera.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ILs6QbZAQ
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOboQaI1RXm
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9KeIO0Bg6
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUiwnuY3gq
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClmpOpGUFD
That was her. Vera Clay, a friend of mine. She was a detective. I had first met her when I had stumbled upon a murder case involving a relative of mine.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkjf4ulcQP
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNK2S05nO1
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa50xNMGG46
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAoz4jHJH1
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCC6Z1uPqm
I knew of her smart brain and so didn't care to think how she had accurately written in her letter that I would be sitting on my chair, with a sceptic look.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzt9rCMxz0
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmY2BDmDU2q
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHBHIilxkg
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGiK2ma7UZ
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEB5xShflwG
The 27th arrived and I repaired myself to Vera's house in East London. It was a small flat, a rented one. I had lived in it with Vera for ten years before I had moved out to continue with my practice. The door was a little rusted and was unbolted.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQC7xHMa1O
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59ag0PXRpI
I walked inside.
The sight I saw did not surprise me.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrszHxxot8
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXDsIGUeb3
Vera was leaning over her table, looking into her microscope, examining a sample.
I quietly walked over to her and placed my coat on the table beside her.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTjWknJnOx
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsrWe6onB9
It was then that she took notice of me and, without looking up, greeted, " Hallo Jim."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMRHQtak7z
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQRj6KOgp4
I went straight to the point.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnS7E1ZuTm
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2Wz5Mq5FZ
" Vera, you didn't write that letter, did you?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJ1OwI0TkQ
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpvbRW4SFd
She dived even deeper in her microscope and just replied impassively, "Hmm...what? Oh the letter. No i didn't. I just dictated it to young Dave living across the street. I fancy he might've added some of his own bits, considering i had just dictated him one line."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj08aR20Kft
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ki9whl76v
I laughed and sat on a chair.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHMHiPU1Ur
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vqWnvELuF
"Was it so obvious though?", Vera asked after a while.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkcm8slUms
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnzLJMKGTh
I smiled and replied, " Of course. I've known you for ten years. I know your style."
None of us spoke for a few minutes after that. It was typical of her. She only spoke if the other person did. She was not the type to start a conversation.
The silence was unnerving me. She was so engaged in her scientific work that I thought she had forgotten that she had called me here.
Frustrated, I asked, anything to get her to talk, " How did you know that i would be "sitting on my chair with a sceptic look"?"
She replied in a bored voice, " It was so obvious. I have know you for ten years as you say so yourself. Even young Dave got it."
The silence continued.
She perched herself back and slammed her fist on the table. The action was enough to surprise me, but not much - I was used to it.
Vera yelled, " Awful! Amazingly, brilliantly, boringly awful!"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwvrNmBhDO
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFaI1Q2cVg
I advanced to calm her, but stopped as I realised it wasn't necessary.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b7ira1bRg
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjOSh6vszG
Instead, I asked," What's the experiment?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC1dMYFTNK
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7E6NywUm3
She looked at me for the first time and replied, " Oh Jim. You're still here. I thought you were off. The experiment? Nothing. Just the old sheriff who commissioned me to match fingerprints for a robbery case."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtN4FeuukM
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJBg2wOb2z
"And?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndXMaUj9RI
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMc6DgIuL9v
" They turned out to be the fingerprints of the Sheriff himself."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMsRtGhcdt
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNKSzMGFo6
"Isn't that good? You got your man."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtj1c1eXZbg
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFc6EWaQVP
"No. He can't have robbed."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyayuUForC5
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrv1TZVHAK1
"Why?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF4bwuFlJY
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡler3j8TUDK
She frowned and replied, Oh why can't you just think Jim? He can't have robbed. That's because identifying fingerprints is something which is fairly simple. Surely a man as intelligent as the Sherrif won't turn himself in. Also, he was wearing boots on the day of the robbery."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9Tq8Dv5fW
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOaY1ZB4om
I frowned and replied satirically," Well that makes perfect sense."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfuaZQP2Gl
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAudle8yalK
"Doesn't it?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQsC3GQH7Z
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXesPHuQ9eq
I have to say, sarcasm is wasted on Vera. All she wants is talk of business. Nothing else.
So I asked, " Who was that man you sent the letter with?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOdyBZKp1D
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMNMQobKAt
"Oh just an old friend of mine. He is a detective too. Might be the greatest detective of today's times."
" He looks rather ridiculous to me."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2hInFsNwn
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHM2V1C5qy
"Few people take him seriously."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrPSAtMaex
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs6UhvKbtn
She went off into the kitchen, and I followed her.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqo2HyjUuk
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SO7AU0Pww
"Weren't you going to show me something interesting?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCJOEAxemU
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDvFZBwYhW
She turned to me and smiled, excited.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qfN02mB08
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYMK9RBYkU
She said, " Glad you mentioned it."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9zqLesTP9
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZgJVe3lNt
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2iLhxvOtw
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQ7SJImu5v
She frowned and said, " You didn't ask."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJzBVOvWJp
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WT67NsXIR
Call me imprudent if you like, I thought.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH9Ar4DUtf
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieoH1Iq6Do
"On my table in the hall, there's a package. Bring it."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifT5mJNsOx
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcUdTLdkRH
I did so. 471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQozxRifCw9
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoL3tvLxEJj
I handed it over to her, expecting a reaction, but all I got was nothing. Her eyes were uninteresting and bored, as if it was obvious what she was going to say next. Knowing her, she wouldn't say it in such a case.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp3xzCNmcI
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMaLiywvyc
Then I looked more closely at the package and notice a red tulip and gasped.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vgI8N6Ti3
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7KcFWmQxv
"Why, it's the....the....Royal Mark!"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNhvBhee6n
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB085P9Qas
My voice shook as I fluttered like a fish out of water.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmoOK2guK8
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYQ8MRXfw2
Vera smiled.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiTMR8UqEF
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lEwLiohE7
"It arrived today, and I have a feeling I know what's in it."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizC5K3lGF8
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUvkrn96cJ
At once, I opened the letter and found in my hand an inexplicable blank note, much to my amusement.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2OpPtENxu
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr2prVDVrS
I laughed as I remarked," Well Vera. What do you make of this?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsybxlVeCV
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFuTizebX7
I half - expected her to frown and not chuckle as she did.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5nVIDB2mZ
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLn4eb3EnF
" Blank note isn't it? How boring."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXULh5JmFcL
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHlyiihYe9
"What is it about?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wMDuxdcFC
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrHIC7FCBy
"You shall know - now."
Right at that moment, a man appeared at the door.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt96UmoVNCW
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj8GFBClXb
"You knew he would come?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89BQG53VWQ
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVgoWMjiGU
Vera looked away to her work and said," Indeed. I see that you didn't notice the walking stick our visitor has left in the corner of the room. Indeed, our man has come back."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xXmo09J2R
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNV3M6p9Cq
I went and opened the door.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPPRpFw0lF
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuxieuGdIH
"Good morning sir," said the man, scratching his faint beard," You must be Vera Clay, the detective..."
I corrected my identity and assured him that he had indeed come to the right place.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaxvQ0nDRO
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA1GrkVjqs
When he met Vera, his face shined with surprise. It was not unusual. People hardly believed that she was the detective and I was not, owing to the fact that she was a woman, a fact that I found mildly absurd.
Nevertheless, our man sat down.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx25SDxW4g
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡel6Ql4j6XS
"Madamoiselle, I have come to you on strict orders from the Royal Family. My name is Sanders Roy. That's Colonel Roy to you two."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQlGCzfCTz
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNR0mjlyHZ
We nodded.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wZKeamPNt
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ579NRmbcCW
Vera said:471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9sekqqlJb
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NSHleiUx2
" I believe, Monsieur, that you came by here a bit earlier today, say, a little after seven in the morning?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9RisS5Clt
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0N6YU0OGZ
The Colonel said, " Yes I did. I saw M. Shepperd coming here, so I assumed you had returned."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2bbgmmd1J
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Gpijdfw1f
" And is it safe to assume that you broke the plate over there?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8zCFQGTtW
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3kKDtS1Eb
She pointed to a broken plate kept neatly on one of the chairs.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0Eb42xad0
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIRYV0iVOJ
Colonel nodded," My apologies."
Vera smirked and said, " Don't be sorry. As it is, I am going to take my money from you. I believe you still have your change of €2 from the coffee you just had in the coffee shop opposite this flat?"
Colonel gasped.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZQUCnhUua
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWumUWAe0n
"How did-"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9ymZuyFH9
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpHXfwO6ea
"You came here two hours ago and left your cane. I assumed it was purposely done so as to notify me of your visit. You belong to the Royal Family meaning you'd have a long way to go back. So I assumed that you were taking lodging nearby. Look at the time now. It's 9:30. Most people would pass their time drinking a beverage. So I thought you'd be having coffee at the shop opposite. You mentioned just now that you saw my friend Jim coming here, confirming my assumption that you were at a place nearby. The cost of the coffee is €5 and I thought that you wouldn't take much money out with you, to not attract much attention. The €2 was just a wild guess."
For a moment there was silence. I, who knew of Vera's methods gave no reaction but just looked at the Colonel. He was speechless. His mouth was open as he looked at Vera as if she were an alien.
He cleared his throat and destroyed the silence.
"Well", he said with dignity," let us go back to our purpose of the conversation. I, as you know, am from the Royal Family and I have brought with myself a letter from them - which you have already received."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKFDwdHFTZ
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB11ufvKthD
Vera nodded.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjK1MEUGc39
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSA3gpMdvU
"On behalf of Duke George, I would like to invite you, Madamoiselle Vera Clay, to the Royal Ball. You may invite a companion to come with you, and I assume it's going to be M. Shepperd here."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTx0xBkh9HA
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V1AdBKC4X
"Yes."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi435pW2kv
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDu3jca3AQ
"Well then, the Ball is on Thursday. Today is Tuesday. You have two days to prepare."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWieS3uOoyo
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXsKXJoMsw
Colonel Rose stood up.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0Iz2Nvzi6
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4yi595HWH
"I must be off now."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCApwhGZUy9
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA57xlGWea
He looked at Vera strangely again, eyeing me in the process too. Off he went.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEPVYnRJnj
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlynpA2qKet
Vera, being herself, went into the kitchen without saying a word to me. I followed.
"Vera," I beckoned,"you aren't seriously going to the Ball, are you?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufsFMT2xHV
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPebfJCuuC
She frowned.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUt3msg367t
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1NsvFUiat
"Why, John? Of course I am."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6T7DlOfFS
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06dqK1ywjp
"You do understand that there are going to be real people there. People you are going to have to talk to."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSTexNtrIs
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrFH8lD5Bw
"Don't be silly, John. I do know how to talk."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡik0slIpBEm
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc43mAjevZ0
"No. No you don't ", I said simply.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvMHcGW6YR
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3XCrZ8OHa
"Well then, I'd just hover in the background."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUA9AEOVWm
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfVQhD58Um
"Vera," I said," why do you want to go to this party? You don't usually go to such things. Why a sudden interest?"
Vera sighed. She pulled out a chair and ordered," Sit."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCEDFTuSJn
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI666SjTUah
I did.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLJwie7JJg
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweirQVUOxr
She began, " John, do you know the Royal Family?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6s1rXwRRYC
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmm3luVl0fd
I shrugged.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSbtqlujvp
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzgfJxdZqb
"Well I have read about them in some magazines and journals."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5k0t0jFGc2
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1OCUcIuEO
"That is not enough."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnomOU4VpqQ
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy69T92lS5R
"Tell me then."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugk4vTodrp
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZgx1HrWOp
" John, the Royal Family is large. There's the Duke, the twin sons - Micheal and Roger, the mother, the Aunt, the Colonel, the governess, the hunter, the writer, etc. "471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnRBK213hV
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13ClYqKg1L
"That's some diversity."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJQvfLMM8R
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJAvWeGLAR
"And what happens when all such high - class diverse people are brought together under one estate?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIt1Hgm1Di
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKzu9DBLdN
"Let me guess, scandals, controversies?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziPfhWbq4g
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEw750bayU1
"Exactly. But more so. A violent clash of egos. Fights. Rivalries in everything - sports, poetry, music, women - you name it. Especially between the twins."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNHyQWXukc
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5SkRALJjV
I smirked.471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1E7GLeJA7
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7b9ggh3Z1x
"But you aren't interested in that, are you?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCyeBt2R9O
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZoOgJPtFq
"Of course not. No. I am interested about one particular thing. Only one. Something which may change the Family forever."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLz3T0kg03v
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY014TUGfnf
"And that thing is...?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIu23ZLDGWE
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqEvCldFTk
"John, do you know the patient who delivered to you my letter today?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92RJpCplyU
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCXLBkNpdP
"The egg faced, old man with that glorious moustache? I don't know him, but I fancy he's a hairdresser."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8XDaW0IpZ
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTXbzI1oQs
"He's a world famous Belgian detective. Earlier this morning, I answered a summons from him and he told me about this matter."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUKve0kHa7
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QwyKM0UL3
"What?"471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD7qxlQEuP
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOtyKc583y
"The Royal Family is a plethora of secrets and controversies. According to the great detective, whom you just met in your clinic, one such secret is the planned murder of one member of the Royal Family."471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBMAUeTlYA
471Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ji7TiN7En
