One night-it
was on the twentieth of March, 1888-I was
returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to
civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. země a města {lands and cities}
Velkovévodství
kasl-felštejnské
{The Grandduchy of Cassel-Felstein}
Vilém Gottsreich Zikmund z
Ormštejnu, velkovévoda kasl-felštejnský, král český.
Narozen 1858.
1883 ještě jen korunní princ, 20. března 1888 již král
český.
Zasnoubení s Klotildou Lothman ze Saxe-Meningenu, druhou dcerou
krále skandinávského, veřejně vyhlášeno v pondělí 23(?).
března 1888."
{Wilhelm Gottsreich
Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, King of
Bohemia.
Born 1858.
1883 still only Crown Prince, on the twentieth of March 1888
already King of Bohemia.
Betrothal to Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter
of the King of Scandinavia, publicly proclaimed on Monday the
23(?)th of March, 1888.}
...
One night-it
was on the twentieth of March, 1888-I was
returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to
civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street.
...
"The
circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution has to
be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense scandal and
seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Europe. To
speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House of
Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia."
"I was also
aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself down in his
armchair and closing his eyes.
Our visitor
glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, lounging
figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him as the
most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Holmes
slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his gigantic
client.
"If your
Majesty would condescend to state your case," he remarked, "I
should be better able to advise you."
The man sprang
from his chair and paced up and down the room in uncontrollable
agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he tore the mask
from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You are right,"
he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to conceal it?"
"Why, indeed?"
murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken before I was
aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond
von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and hereditary King
of Bohemia."
...
"The facts
are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a
lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the
well-known adventuress, Irene Adler."
...
"We were
both in the photograph."
"Oh, dear!
That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an
indiscretion."
"I was mad-insane."
"You have
compromised yourself seriously."
"I was only Crown
Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now."
...
Holmes
laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he.
"But a very
serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully.
"Very, indeed.
And what does she propose to do with the photograph?"
"To ruin me."
"But how?"
"I am about to
be married."
"So I have
heard."
"To Clotilde
Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the King of
Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her
family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a
doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end."
"And Irene
Adler?"
"Threatens to
send them the photograph. And she will do it. I know 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 woman,
there are no lengths to which she would not go-none."
"You are sure
that she has not sent it yet?"
"I am sure."
"And why?"
"Because she
has said that she would send it on the day when the betrothal was
publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday."
"Oh, then we
have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn.
...
22.11.2002