"I wish you would accompany me back to Neuschwanstein and see if you can do anything to expose any assassination attempts," the King went on. You would have the finest accommodation I can offer, and be handsomely paid for any assistance you are able to give."

"Your case does not interest me," said Holmes.

The king looked astounded. "Mr. Holmes!"

"Good evening."

The king's brow furrowed menacingly. "If you continue to treat me in this flippant manner, I shall send for my guards who are awaiting me outside the door."

Holmes stifled a yawn. "Your Majesty has come alone."

The king sighed, defeated. "Will you at least tell me why you scorn my case?"

"Because from what you have told me, I do not believe Your Majesty to be in any real danger."

"How can you say that?" the king demanded.

"I do not wish to appear indelicate, but Your Majesty has a reputation for insanity," Holmes pointed out.

"Ah! You are aware of those rumors! And so you think my fears are nothing but the ramblings of a madman!"

"No," said Holmes, "I merely mean that it would be easy enough to make a trumped-up psychological report confirming this rumor and force you to abdicate 'for the good of the kingdom', as I believe the phrase goes. In fact, I am told such a report is already being created."

"Yes. What of it?" the king demanded angrily.

"Well, then, if there exists so straightforward a path to removing Your Majesty from the throne, why should any of your enemies wish to murder you? Surely that would be an unnecessary risk. So you see, I do not believe you to be in danger of being murdered."

"It is not my throne they are after. It is my personal holdings- my lands and properties. As of right now, I have constructed three palaces. If I may say so, they are magnificent." The king began to list them, looking as proud as a father naming his children. "Neuschwanstein, Hieren-"

"Neuschwansein, Hierenchiemsee, and Linderhof. I am aware," Holmes said.

The king looked annoyed. "Very well. Then you will be aware that they were very costly to construct and, though most of them are not finished, they are nonetheless complete enough to be extremely valuable. My cabinet wishes to turn them over to the state so they can charge admission for them. It was my intention to do just that upon my death. It would be extremely profitable for them to open them- I was foolish enough to mention that when defending my decision to construct my palaces."

"Why not wait until Your Majesty has come to the end of your natural lifespan?"

"I am still a young man. It may be many years until I die of natural causes. If I die sooner, they can begin making money sooner. In addition, having me killed now would be cheaper than providing for me for the rest of my life." The king's cynicism was astounding.

"Your enemies must indeed be ruthless if they wish to kill you only to make a few thousand more marks," said Holmes.

A hunted look came over the King's face. "Mr. Holmes, you cannot imagine what they are capable of. They already confined my poor younger brother Otto to an asylum." He paused. "You see how I am trapped- if I were to mention my suspicions, it would be taken as proof that I suffer from the same madness as my brother. I should be accused, undoubtedly, of having dementia praecox."

"Your Majesty is well-versed in psychiatric terminology," Holmes observed.

The King gave a bitter laugh. "How could I not be? I have heard a great deal of it recently, thanks to poor Otto's supposed illness."

Holmes paused, deep in thought. "I take it Your Majesty has not agreed to open your palaces now?" he asked at length.

"You are correct," said the king. "I have not."

Holmes looked as though he were beginning to lose interest again. "Why not? Surely that would solve the whole problem, to everyone's satisfaction."

"Hierenchiemsee and Neuschwanstein remain unfinished and my favorite, Linderhof, is too small to admit crowds of visitors. Certainly not while I am present." The king winced. In his look, I caught a glimpse of the stubborn obstinacy that had made him unpopular with his cabinet. "I have spent my entire life, from the cradle even, being stared at like a monkey playing the hurdy-gurdy. You cannot possibly understand what that is like. My great passion in life is music, but when I go to the opera I cannot even enjoy it because everyone gawks at me incessantly. I am constantly on display. It is intolerable. This secret expedition to London is the first time in my whole existence that I can remember going anywhere without being stared at. My palaces are the only place where I am not made into a spectacle."

A pensive look had come over Holmes' face.

"Mr. Holmes," the king continued, "I implore you to understand that I only wish to exist on my own terms. I wish merely to be left alone with my own thoughts."

I suspected this would strike a chord with my old friend, who similarly craved solitude and anonymity. And indeed it must have, for after a few moments, he said, "I shall travel to Neuschwanstein as soon as I have settled my affairs in Baker Street."

"Mr. Holmes, I am deeply grateful." The king paused. "Shall Dr. Watson be accompanying us?" I could see that he wished to keep the entourage as small as possible.

"Dr. Watson is essential," said Holmes.

"He is?"

"I am?"

Holmes smiled. "The presence at the castle an unknown Englishman like myself, especially during an uneasy interlude like this, would certainly raise questions. And if it was learnt that Your Majesty had hired a consulting detective, it would be taken as certain proof of Your Majesty's supposed madness- not to mention putting your enemies on their guard. But the presence of the well-respected English doctor Your Majesty has recently engaged, along with his humble medical secretary Mr. Holmes- or shall we call him Mr. Johnson?- now, that would not be any cause for concern."

The king's eyes lit up with sudden understanding, and he nodded vigorously. "Indeed."

"Fortunately, Watson's German is adequate for the role, I think," said Holmes.

It was not a question, but the king deigned to offer his corroboration of this assessment. "Yes. Very well, then all is settled," he said.

"Be sure to bring your trusty revolver, Watson," said Holmes. "But take care not to wave it about unless absolutely necessary."

Without having uttered a word during that whole discussion, I found myself spoken for, my presence engaged. To Neuschwanstein, therefore, we were to go.