“Perfectly correct,” said the young Prince; “but how did you know I had a cousin, and that he was at Heidelberg?” “The photograph of a young student in the dress of the Saxo-Borussen Korps, which is in my bedroom, and the group of students, both signed Fritz von Interlacken, dated October 1907, told me that a student had been here recently; the inscription on the bowl of your pipe, Prince, ‘Fritz, S.L., Onkel Peter, July 1907,’ told me the rest.” “Wonderful,” said the Prince; “and how simple it seems when one is told; but will you and Watson join us and cut?” “Watson,” said Holmes, “plays nothing but whist, and I, although I know the principles of many card games, am an indifferent player in practice.” “Papa,” broke in the young Princess, “the skat-book has gone.” “Ring,” said the Prince. “We are new to the game,” he added, “and a small book, which contains the rules, and is, moreover, a scoring book, is of great assistance to us.” The butler entered the room, and declared that Prince Alexander took the book every evening to his room in the other house, and left it in the front hall in the morning. “I take it to learn the rules,” said Prince Alexander, “but I always bring it back.” “You can look in my room,” he added, to the butler, “but I know it isn’t there.” The butler went out. “Did you bring it back this morning?” asked his father. “I didn’t take it away last night. It was on the table, and I think I left the money I won in it, nine roubles in paper.” “Then,” said the Prince, laughing, “this is a matter for Mr. Holmes, and, by the way, we forgot to tell him, at least I didn’t forget, but I purposely didn’t mention it at luncheon, that last night we had a robbery here.” “Indeed,” said Holmes, folding his hands and looking up to the ceiling, “you interest me extremely.” “I’m afraid it’s not very interesting,” said the Princess, “but, it’s rather comical. Our four best kitchen saucepans have been stolen, two or three of the Prince’s shirts, two or three of Alexander’s, and some inexpensive silver links belonging to him.” “Would you like me to try and find the thief?” asked Holmes. “We would be delighted if you could find the kitchen saucepans,” said the Princess, “as it is inconvenient for the cook. It doesn’t matter about the thief.” “Do you give me leave to cross-examine the members of your household and your servants?” asked Holmes. “Of course,” said the Princess, “we know it is no one in the house, but we have several bad characters in the village.” The butler now entered once more, and said that he had searched everywhere in both houses and the book was nowhere to be found. “Then we must play without it,” said the Princess. “Alexander, get some paper to score on; the book,” she added, “was most convenient, as it had blank leaves at the end, perforated at the edge, which one could tear off for the score. And one saw the score at a glance. You won’t play, Mr. Holmes?”