"It is easy to see you have just arrived from the middle of Africa, or you would know that His Majesty the King is in Paris.... Surely you must know that, since you tell me that you came through Paris on your way here." The Duchess de Rutisheimer, a rather pretty and distinguished looking woman, drew the detective apart and whispered behind her fan: "Our King is a gay bird, Count, and we know very well why he goes to Paris." The Duchess spoke with such an air of annoyance that Juve could hardly prevent a smile. "One might criticise His Majesty for going so far away to seek what was so close to hand." "Ah, indeed, you are right," the Princess sighed, "there must be something about these Parisian women. ... I heard that the dressmakers of the Rue de la Paix are going to bring out some Spring models which are so indecent ..." M. Erick von Kampfen, the chamberlain, entered the room at this moment and announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, kindly pass into the gallery. Her Majesty the Queen will be ready to receive you in a moment." Behind him came the little Duc Rudolphe, who was informing some of his friends as though it were a fine piece of scandal: "The Grand Duchess Alexandra hasn't come yet ... and they are wondering if she will come." CHAPTER XIV QUEEN HEDWIGE RECEIVES Obedient to the Grand Chamberlain's invitation, the assembled guests passed into the great gallery at the end of which an immense salon was seen, still empty; it was the room in which the Queen held her drawing-room. It was sparsely furnished; a large gilded armchair, which was really a throne, stood at the farther end between two windows; the floor was waxed until it shone, and the surface was so slippery that Juve felt some fear of mishaps. First came the guard with a clatter of sabres, then two heralds, and finally Her Majesty Hedwige, Queen of Hesse-Weimar, who proceeded to the throne and sat down. She was a little body with a pinched and nervous expression of face. She trotted along like an old woman, her shoulders hunched up, and distributed nods right and left in response to the profound bows of her courtiers. This was not in the least as Juve had pictured her. He had seen her a dozen years previously, when she was a young girl engaged to Frederick-Christian; she had then appeared charming, and majestic in bearing. Now she looked like a woman of the middle class, bourgeois from head to heels. Near the throne stood two officers in gala uniform, while the guard formed a circle round the throne. The audience began. The first Chamberlain called out a name, and a matron, after making the three traditional courtseys, came forward and chatted in a low voice with the Queen. Juve was observing the ceremony with interest, when his reflections were cut short by a voice calling: "Monsieur le Comte de Juff!" The detective, slightly intimidated, advanced toward the sovereign, while the grand Chamberlain leaned over and whispered his name and rank to the Queen.