Mrs Fordeland introduced us and His Majesty was kind enough to assure us that he knew my friend’s reputation through my published accounts.
‘Your Majesty,’ said Holmes, ‘I apologize for our untimely appearance in your suite, but Mrs Fordeland has found herself in no little danger and, in attempting to avoid that danger, I had no recourse but to throw our party on your mercy.’
‘Danger?’ said the King, frowning. ‘How comes it that a lady like Mrs Fordeland is in danger in this city? But you will tell me, Mr Holmes, while we dine. His Majesty has done his diplomatic business for today and it is time for refreshment.’
He beckoned his secretary and spoke quickly to him, then waved us after him with a peremptory gesture. We followed him to another chamber, where a meal had been laid, and we were shown to places at the table.
Once we were seated and being served, I looked about me. The room was smaller than the audience room, but had larger windows and a balcony overlooking the hotel’s garden. Like the principal room, it was profusely decorated with palms and flowers and half of one wall was covered in ornamental birdcages and I could see that their occupants were not native to Britain. Throughout our meal the birds engaged in a quietly cheery chatter with themselves and with each other.
Of the meal itself I recall little, save that it was excellent and that there was almost no dish offered that I had ever sampled before. His Majesty ate sparingly, as seemed to be his habit, while paying grave attention to Holmes’ account of the situation which had brought us to his suite.
When the meal was concluded we withdrew to chairs on the balcony and fruit juices were served. The King was silent for a while, apparently looking over the garden, which seemed to be at its best.
‘There is no problem, Mr Holmes,’ he said, suddenly. ‘Mrs Fordeland has served my country and my family well. It is an honour and a privilege to give her my protection. My entourage occupies two entire floors of this hotel. It will be no difficulty to accommodate all of you for as long as is necessary.’
‘That is extremely kind of you, Your Majesty,’ said our client, ‘but will it not create difficulties for your staff?’
‘I am quite sufficient difficulty to my staff, Mrs Fordeland. Everything else is easy by comparison.
Please, honour me by accepting my offer,’ and he smiled broadly.
‘Then I am pleased and honoured to accept your generous hospitality and your protection for myself and for my granddaughter,’ said Mrs Fordeland.
‘The spirit of my revered father would never have forgiven me if I had done any less,’ said the King.
‘Much as I know you disputed many issues between you, he had the greatest respect for your
intelligence and learning, and much as I know you sometimes angered him, he held great respect for your independence of mind. It was a quality that he valued highly.’
‘He was a man of great kindness, as well as a great king,’ said our client. ‘I have always deemed it a signal honour that he chose me to educate his wives and children and, thereby, allowed me to assist in some little part his ambitions for your country. If I may make so bold as to say so, Your Majesty, you have continued his work as he would have done it, if all I read of Mongkuria is true.’
I will swear that the King blushed. ‘I learned as a boy in your class, Mrs Fordeland, that you do not award praise that is unearned, and I value your words most highly for that reason. I have tried to follow my royal father’s path and to advance the nation and my people. There is still much to be done and, as in my father’s day, there are still far too many people who will offer to do it for us at a price in freedom which we will not pay.’
He reached for a carafe of fruit juice and refilled our glasses to cover his reaction. When he had taken a long draught, he rose and we followed suit. He motioned us to be seated again.
‘I must take a rest,’ he said. ‘My day has been passed, before you came, in listening to engineers from every country in Europe, who want to build me a railway. My secretary will have been making
arrangements for your accommodation and he will see that you are shown to your rooms as soon as possible. I am sure that, after this morning’s events, you too will wish to rest. I look forward to enjoying your company at dinner.’
He was true to his word and it was not long before we were escorted to rooms on the floor above.
Holmes and I were allocated two bedrooms with a small sitting room joining them and, after I had taken a short nap, I joined Holmes there.
‘Ah, Watson!’ he said. ‘I have taken the liberty of sending a message to Mrs Hudson to pack a small bag for each of us. The King’s people will collect them soon.’
‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘You know, I have to hand it to you, Holmes. When we were trapped in the street by Kyriloffs thugs, I thought we were really bottled up and in for trouble, but not only did you find a way out, you landed us as guests of the King of Mongkuria. Very well done!’
‘I am delighted, Watson, that you have not, on this occasion, attributed the result to luck. The fact is that, as soon as Mrs Fordeland made us aware of her connection with the King of Mongkuria, I made it my business to discover where His Majesty was quartered, in case it became of relevance. What got us out of trouble today was that knowledge combined with my knowledge of London’s geography, a basic tool of my practice. It is both foolish and dangerous to attempt a battle, or even to run away from one, unless one has a sound knowledge of the terrain.’
‘Oh, quite,’ I agreed, ‘but you must admit that we have landed rather soft, Holmes.’
‘I agree that the accommodation of a royal suite is a far cry from where we might have ended, and His Majesty’s generous offer removes the urgent danger to our client, but the second urgent aspect of the case remains beyond my control or intervention and I admit that it worries me.’
‘You mean Miss Wortley-Swan?’
‘I do, Watson. I am forced, at present, to trust that Colonel Wilmshaw’s reappearance in England will distract the lady sufficiently to delay any plans she has for the count.’
Before I could comment, a tap at the door brought a royal servant who presented the King’s apologies and asked us to join him in the audience chamber in fifteen minutes.
A quarter of an hour later we made our way to the great room and were shown to chairs alongside the dais. Mrs Fordeland and her granddaughter had been summoned as well, though none of us had an inkling of the reason.
Additional uniformed guards were posted to form a corridor from the main doors to the foot of the dais, and it became evident that a formal visitor was to be received. When all was in place, His Majesty’s secretary called for silence and the King swept in. Looking to neither left nor right he mounted the dais and stood before his chair. He had changed into a dazzling white tunic of European cut, heavily braided with gold and displaying a left breast filled with decorations and medals. An expression of stern irritation was stamped upon his previously placid and amiable features. Lifting his head, he snapped his fingers peremptorily.
The main doors opened and a darkly clothed attendant escorted the visitor between the lines of guards.
As he approached the dais it became possible to see that it was none other than our old friend Kyriloff, now elaborately clad in the uniform of his rank. He stopped at the foot of the dais and bowed deeply to the King. His Majesty acknowledged the bow with a curt dipping of his head.
‘Your Majesty,’ began Kyriloff. ‘Let me begin by saying that I and the country which I have the honour of representing are deeply grateful for your patience and consideration in agreeing to this audience at such short notice.’
He was evidently intending to go on, but the King cut him short. ‘You are here, Major Kyriloff, because I wish to know what it is that you have to say. Please say it.’