slightest pretense of ever having seen his majesty. A ridiculous

beard started the trouble, and later a series of happenings, no one

of which was particularly remarkable in itself, aggravated it, until

but a moment since I myself was almost upon the point of believing

that I am the king.

"But, my dear Herr Kramer, I am not the king; and when you have

accompanied me to the hospital and seen that your patient still is

there, you may be willing to admit that there is some justification

for doubt as to my royalty."

The old man shook his head.

"I am not so sure of that," he said, "for he who lies at the

hospital, providing you are not he, or he you, maintains as sturdily

as do you that he is not Leopold. If one of you, whichever be

king--providing that you are not one and the same, and that I be not

the only maniac in the sad muddle--if one of you would but trust my

loyalty and love for the true king and admit your identity, then I

might be of some real service to that one of you who is really

Leopold. Herr Gott! My words are as mixed as my poor brain."

"If you will listen to me, Herr Kramer," said Barney, "and believe

what I tell you, I shall be able to unscramble your ideas in so far

as they pertain to me and my identity. As to the man you say was

found beneath my car, and who now lies in the sanatorium of

Tafelberg, I cannot say until I have seen and talked with him. He

may be the king and he may not; but if he insists that he is not, I

shall be the last to wish a kingship upon him. I know from sad

experience the hardships and burdens that the thing entails."

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