"It was the money which tempted me," the wretched woman cried. "I
hesitated for some time, and at last yielded. The Prince arrived, and
although greatly surprised and disappointed to find your Highness
absent, remained and dined with myself and the man Gechkuloff, of whom
he, of course, knew nothing save that he was one of his father's
subjects. Near the conclusion of dinner we witnessed a cab accident
opposite the window, a blind gentleman--Mr Heaton--being run over, and
I ordered the people to carry him into the drawing-room. Dr Slater was
fetched, and having bandaged his head, told us to let him remain quiet
for an hour or so, then left. In the meantime the Bulgarian Minister,
Roesch, arrived, apparently in a great hurry, was introduced, and had a
long interview with the Prince in private. Afterwards we adjourned into
the library. Some champagne was drunk, and the three men smoked,
speaking often in their own language, so that I might not understand all
that was said. Subsequently the deed was produced, and after a
considerable amount of hesitation and many promises on the part of the
Minister of Finance, his Highness signed it. Then a witness was
required. Gechkuloff whispered to me the suggestion that the signature
of Mr Heaton, who was lying in the adjoining room half conscious,
should be obtained, and having made him believe that he was signing a
birthday book I got from him the desired signature. Shortly afterwards,
while sitting at the piano playing I felt a heavy blow, which for a few
moments stunned me. Then gazing through into the adjoining room I saw
two figures struggling--the Prince and a woman. For a few seconds he
held her tightly, but with a furious twist she freed herself and struck
him full in the chest with the small dagger in her hand. He staggered
and fell backward upon the couch dying. The scene struck terror into
the hearts of all of us, the two men standing near me rigid in
amazement. The woman closed and locked the door communicating between
the two rooms, and left the house, while a few minutes later we also
followed."
"You saw the woman's face?" inquired Hickman.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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