The second letter was from headquarters in New York.
"DEAR WINTHROP--We want a good Sunday special. Her Serene Highness the
Princess Hildegarde of Hohenphalia has taken it into her head to
disappear again. Go over and see Rockwell in B----; he will give you a
good yarn. It has never been in type yet, and I daresay that it will
make good reading. London seems particularly dull just now, and you
can easily turn over your affairs to the assistant. This woman's life
is more full of romance than that of any other woman of the courts of
Europe. The most interesting part of it is her reputation is said to
be like that of Caesar's wife--above reproach. Get a full history of
her life and of the Prince whom she is to marry. If you can get any
photographs do so. I know how you dislike this sort of work, prying
into private affairs, as you call it, but with all these sensational
sheets springing up around us, we must keep in line now and then. Do
you know anything about Hillars; is he dead or alive? Take all the
time you want for the story and send it by mail."
"The Princess Hildegarde!" I cried aloud. "The deuce take the woman!"
"What's that?" asked my assistant, who had overheard my outburst.
"Oh, I am to go across on a special story," I said with a snarl, "just
as I was fixing for a week's fishing. I've got to concern myself with
the Princess Hildegarde of Hohenphalia."
"Ah, the Princess Hildegarde?" said the young fellow, pushing back his
hat and elevating his feet, a trick he had acquired while being reared
in his native land, which was the State of Illinois, in America. "You
want to be careful. Every one burns his fingers or singes his wings
around that candle."
"What do you know about her?" I asked.
"A little. You see, about six months ago I discovered all regarding
Hillars and his fall from grace. It was through the Reuter agency.
Hillars got badly singed. An elopement of some sort between him and
the Princess was nipped in the bud. He was ordered to leave the
country and warned never to return, at the peril of his liberty. A
description of him is with every post on the frontier. As for the
Princess she is an interesting character. She was educated in this
country and France. She speaks several languages. She is headstrong
and wilful, and her royal guardian is only too anxious to see her
married and settled down. She masquerades in men's clothes when it
pleases her, she can ride a horse like a trooper, she fences and
shoots, she has fought two duels, and heaven alone knows what she has
not done to disturb the tranquility of the Court. For a man she loved
she would be a merry comrade. I saw her once in Paris. She is an
extraordinarily beautiful woman. A man takes no end of risk when he
concerns himself with her affairs, I can tell you. Hillars--Well, I
suppose it's none of my business. He must have had an exciting time of
it," concluded the young man.