[Illustration: “‘HIS NAME?’ HE ASKED.”] The First American King BY George Gordon Hastings [Illustration] 1905 The Smart Set Publishing Company LONDON NEW YORK COPYRIGHTED 1904, by THE SMART SET PUBLISHING CO. NEW EDITION, FEBRUARY, 1905. CONTENTS BOOK I I. DR. BELDEN’S ESTABLISHMENT 1 II. “SLEEP ON, MY FRIENDS, SLEEP ON” 13 BOOK II I. ON THE BROAD HIGHWAY 25 II. THE MAN WITH THE COCKED HAT 41 III. A STRANGE REVELATION 51 IV. SEARCHING THE FILES 61 V. THE STORY OF THE PAST 75 VI. THE STAR OF EMPIRE 85 VII. THE POT CALLS THE KETTLE BLACK 93 VIII. MR. KEARNS HAS A PREMONITION 103 IX. A MYSTERY OF THE PALACE 111 X. THE GREAT COURT BALL 123 XI. IN THE GARDENS OF THE KING 133 XII. A NIGHT ALARM 143 XIII. HOW CAME THIS TO PASS 153 XIV. THE COUNTERPLOT 157 XV. THE EAVESDROPPER OF THE QUEEN’S WALK 171 XVI. THE TAP OF MILADI’S FAN 183 XVII. WHEN GREEK MEETS GREEK 197 BOOK III I. “WHO ARE YOU” 207 II. VALERIE SEEKS NEWS OF THE FASHIONS 219 III. THE MASKED VISITOR 229 IV. UNFOLDING THE PLAN 251 V. A STRANGE MESSAGE 267 VI. THE NEW CHANCELLOR 284 VII. FROM BEHIND THE CURTAIN 300 VIII. IN THE CHANCELLERIE 317 IX. THE LAST STAND OF THE GUARDS 337 X. THE NEW ERA 347 BOOK I THE CAVE OF WHISPERS CHAPTER I DR. BELDEN’S ESTABLISHMENT The establishment of Dr. James Belden was pleasantly situated upon the southern shore of Long Island, some ninety odd miles from the city. The spacious house was fitted with every modern convenience and comfort, and stood in extensive, well-wooded private grounds. There were good fishing and boating to be had and the white, well-kept Long Island roads afforded excellent facilities alike for riding and driving.