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.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DnhCRpjol
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAlP8Hx8Wk
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAF51f2aVO
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzwM2iPuS2
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXQtUZSAyl
It was the afternoon of the 10th of January, a cold and windy day, when I was fixing a patient of mine.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHUFg9E9o3
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlu6H0As18
"It is cold then, which depresses you?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriZneAK9z4
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQ1ncSCkPK
" Ah, what can I say," my patient began," It is cold. But it is the knee too."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwTxvDY7yg
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8JATE3y8M
"Knee?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfTIwhSGbC
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Q4tNv4ajk
" Yes. I have been travelling much. From here to there. You comprehend?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRphgn1Pyv9
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ubRX7fOgR
I didn't. 552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6r73KKhWIV
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVFbj55zlD
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.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQiIt9pTyn
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQecbuM6NrP
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.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjmG2ByFyc
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAaGKsXxqp
"You see mon ami, it is your friend who gave me this knee."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUN9vmvvyM
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJde8aiQ1Pt
I looked at him. Trying not to laugh at his ridiculous face, I asked, " My friend?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJppuZ7o82
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbJXXkWwCY
"Oh yes. Vera."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOQRUQ4w9L
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVR5KzfTGE
"Oh."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RQyJNmYg9
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwtBvmYiPb
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.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOwCbLJZig
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkoIX3ccaZ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1iKvmLKoK
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bQe2m3nVJ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPxoLdp10j
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. 552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AC5n5RGYG
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyulfGdPFr
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Jg3h4X5y8
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAPacuOo3i
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPSh6yxbnp
I unfolded the letter he had brought me. With sceptical eyes, I read:552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZSRT5joiZ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iYuRNQ7MQ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsnkjgKq8k
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcg3wLmeLom
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALYJTZP0iF
Dear Jim,552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Itcr1ocQo
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AYMOe9Ehr
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.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUTgjOOzNJ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWf3r8MbXG
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJq01lcFxxm
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7W6NEa6MbE
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxycvR74051
Yours, Vera.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡru0OW2Md2S
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQK7ryZeYf
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡox8GxttSxC
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1BWqPTGzi
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrF3SRjcJi8
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.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRQdhx9SZW
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDinJ7bsfkB
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBhD85ImqJ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgR0KVHGGU
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjglKbgVXC
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.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xS1WhQYu7
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GXUxTp1OU
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIyVuHN619
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYI2DyC2pl
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnORT7rkuDQ
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.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FncbQqohD
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzO8SpnDDo
I walked inside.
The sight I saw did not surprise me.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CL6pMcsF5
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7DL7dXEw4
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.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP6T1nzY5D
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NRaNkyFib
It was then that she took notice of me and, without looking up, greeted, " Hallo Jim."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4EwNvXn59
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUL9XH5dFM
I went straight to the point.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnj3VoaylcV
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykfZ4InUbL
" Vera, you didn't write that letter, did you?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3YCGjbJud
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UQGTEf7sr
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."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStiUmAFUoI
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeFtNI9za7
I laughed and sat on a chair.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIjkS8T6YD
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaSBC9KdLM
"Was it so obvious though?", Vera asked after a while.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSY2FCmeBP3
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxxDSDTLoJ
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!"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNoxddDcsp
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOT2ktncLai
I advanced to calm her, but stopped as I realised it wasn't necessary.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uzTTF1b9i
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBi1SlbPxe
Instead, I asked," What's the experiment?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYXjfaUOZE
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36kj33p4LO
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."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdcdRdIjM3
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbT3e4e3hGS
"And?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjAmsF3Mau
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3G3ZMziTq
" They turned out to be the fingerprints of the Sheriff himself."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5iG9QG2lJ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡys9Ps01oLE
"Isn't that good? You got your man."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6hNe4oBnA
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlrbGPu7P5
"No. He can't have robbed."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0Q3viPUdQ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuGHVy2U8u
"Why?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡny5wTZURAt
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqdBpUwZu4
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."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHi9eVu12Eq
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcRUONriZt
I frowned and replied satirically," Well that makes perfect sense."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13dT56ADWN
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9EsfB21Su
"Doesn't it?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenk16519Or
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXs2twdUvsb
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?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooyCEwvpiq
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iE4AZUcZe
"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."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6COvfmn2f
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxOwZwpdgo
"Few people take him seriously."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3rjX5exyj
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77anPnfWy9
She went off into the kitchen, and I followed her.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKn62VYab5
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0SOXIpmWg
"Weren't you going to show me something interesting?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJ6gHSFAwq
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhBBDr6UDZ
She turned to me and smiled, excited.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwPor2LKdm
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEUFWoXlSC
She said, " Glad you mentioned it."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7gqWJaCab
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6AHHj2Hvq
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeQURtEwox
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1axU9jmYS2
She frowned and said, " You didn't ask."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLAkKUC8l8
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktYx9TrhYf
Call me imprudent if you like, I thought.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1fncpgAkE
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVXnPkuerm
"On my table in the hall, there's a package. Bring it."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqP0ptDk3w
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJHii3VbVz
I did so. 552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSHFoKA5MZ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCJUAIyIrP
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.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTWQLwqUVI
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dEpqZwYvh
Then I looked more closely at the package and notice a red tulip and gasped.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUH9TqKdIQ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rHpcBgOYx
"Why, it's the....the....Royal Mark!"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq4eZKy4Vv
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHKYjQXaKh
My voice shook as I fluttered like a fish out of water.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6kysl0exu
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5afJ9nWhD
Vera smiled.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz47pbwMHZ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AOXhI1j8M
"It arrived today, and I have a feeling I know what's in it."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiMNG6AIhG
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRucTwMGAr
At once, I opened the letter and found in my hand an inexplicable blank note, much to my amusement.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNORWJilmu
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIsEpVMlyg
I laughed as I remarked," Well Vera. What do you make of this?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0eyGBxN1U
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCU1S9Ivfs
I half - expected her to frown and not chuckle as she did.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdepwQCN0k
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14gIsBEzAu
" Blank note isn't it? How boring."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcbcJqajRk
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ585PPkLrdY
"What is it about?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pXDiRpMGw
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrco2gIjP4I
"You shall know - now."
Right at that moment, a man appeared at the door.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPfzFxBIPL
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxaz31K6nO
"You knew he would come?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnc1BgozvpT
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF377C7XlE
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."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZztzFYQth
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfoZebl1a1
I went and opened the door.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNYQDg5K1q
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhffmgVVr5
"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.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0ghYm0BWQ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQDDsmva6i
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.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSi4ijRhJpK
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0kDYtZYw9
"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."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBIRydsnne
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwLPBPDyNS
We nodded.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1ufiIPxn3
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR89q3EdDI5
Vera said:552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbODKMpiuWk
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeDRqzuQ1U
" I believe, Monsieur, that you came by here a bit earlier today, say, a little after seven in the morning?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugsi8tqxSd
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheB6ozemtu
The Colonel said, " Yes I did. I saw M. Shepperd coming here, so I assumed you had returned."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMqK5nB8Wn
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1vcwotarx
" And is it safe to assume that you broke the plate over there?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0u4bE4GoDY
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4TH6riBB3
She pointed to a broken plate kept neatly on one of the chairs.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNacUAiPAMQ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcixW6ciLg
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.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6cGQlknr2
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCU3bnEt0Z
"How did-"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOGYw5RKY0
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiAMS5Vfh0
"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."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkyzzmfm0b
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Q9lMKj8oN
Vera nodded.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapLOkIo8pf
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZwR42OqcE
"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."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZa3mzO9xY
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb1PeM5nNz
"Yes."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4PIuSkaMn
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUdeaC4rFT
"Well then, the Ball is on Thursday. Today is Tuesday. You have two days to prepare."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE92KC4Pq2t
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemDIaha7IQ
Colonel Rose stood up.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wLHp0Pc3t
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdk3XJAkJc
"I must be off now."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagPqeVh8BG
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthVB8HJERi
He looked at Vera strangely again, eyeing me in the process too. Off he went.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxbmXsgZB8
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpTwjam92p
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?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuthBmYUC2
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvh9gKxbW7
She frowned.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3bQKGGAm0
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBdpLpc9z8
"Why, John? Of course I am."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wYFbRnjcw
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCl5oVjyPo
"You do understand that there are going to be real people there. People you are going to have to talk to."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDvYTMNxOY
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU31yht5GaE
"Don't be silly, John. I do know how to talk."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvqyBD94JQ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrg7wCQ7SVH
"No. No you don't ", I said simply.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmiqi2ddwb
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswE6TBBTZl
"Well then, I'd just hover in the background."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNIVH0lkAP
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeXDzzw185
"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."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPg67OG6tm
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZeamX7BUF
I did.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZ9aa6yhdB
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLRwzBszUR
She began, " John, do you know the Royal Family?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLJk966Pgq
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0r8gxYXRSM
I shrugged.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSi8Wz5DtkU
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAAs8rlVlB
"Well I have read about them in some magazines and journals."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4saMEWj940
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDNS5UiArV
"That is not enough."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6Tqz5E3VS
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ1KmRY888
"Tell me then."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUk7ZLpcV8Q
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FuGOzfc7j
" 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. "552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69Ezs4O7gt
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8nNicyRkT
"That's some diversity."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZNEazdhdM
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRr3t4Q9ytj
"And what happens when all such high - class diverse people are brought together under one estate?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKkQQSGgH7
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFQ8ztiuV7
"Let me guess, scandals, controversies?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5d4zX3VRQ
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jxWXYUdHh
"Exactly. But more so. A violent clash of egos. Fights. Rivalries in everything - sports, poetry, music, women - you name it. Especially between the twins."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkolbKF4b2
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3KmpFBObI
I smirked.552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtQDpHwXN9
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpE7GgtT4O
"But you aren't interested in that, are you?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNl9pgsWid
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLu8I7OAMZ4
"Of course not. No. I am interested about one particular thing. Only one. Something which may change the Family forever."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KGekX2ApX
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBraMfcWJF
"And that thing is...?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM68cir5uhP
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPAqiKoKkc
"John, do you know the patient who delivered to you my letter today?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKGSJYzgPo
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvh6qh1mlK
"The egg faced, old man with that glorious moustache? I don't know him, but I fancy he's a hairdresser."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTxgq5o4IB
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOex9mFYkL3
"He's a world famous Belgian detective. Earlier this morning, I answered a summons from him and he told me about this matter."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzqfUoOVqV
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7ABJn6Gsq
"What?"552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kL3kGRvGz
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJxqBxQ2OS
"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."552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG27FW8xDA
552Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEbnyXBpQv
