'
'I am glad of that,' said Racksole simply. 'And now, the name of
your immediate employer.'
'He was merely an agent. He called himself Sleszak - S-l-e-s-z-a-k.
But I imagine that that wasn't his real name. I don't know his real
name. An old man, he often used to be found at the H?tel Ritz,
Paris.'
'Mr Sleszak and I will meet,' said Racksole.
'Not in this world,' said Jules quickly. 'He is dead. I heard only last
night - just before our little tussle.'
There was a silence.
'It is well,' said Racksole at length. 'Prince Eugen lives, despite all
plots. After all, justice is done.'
'Mr Racksole is here, but he can see no one, Miss.' The words
came from behind the door, and the voice was the
commissionaire's. Racksole started up, and went towards the door.
'Nonsense,' was the curt reply, in feminine tones. 'Move aside
instantly.'
The door opened, and Nella entered. There were tears in her eyes.
'Oh! Dad,' she exclaimed, 'I've only just heard you were in the
hotel. We looked for you everywhere. Come at once, Prince Eugen
is dying - ' Then she saw the man sitting on the bed, and stopped.
Later, when Jules was alone again, he remarked to himself, 'I may
get that hundred thousand.'
Chapter Twenty-Eight THE STATE BEDROOM ONCE MORE
WHEN, immediately after the episode of the bottle of
Roman?e-Conti in the State dining-room, Prince Aribert and old
Hans found that Prince Eugen had sunk in an unconscious heap
over his chair, both the former thought, at the first instant, that
Eugen must have already tasted the poisoned wine.
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