A Dangerous Disguise Read Free Page A

twenty years. It's no novelty any more."
    "It is if you come from Ben Torrach," Ola said with a chuckle. "I'm longing to see it, but not today. On my first day in London it is appropriate to pay my respects to Queen Victoria.
    "Ola, please be serious."
    "I am serious."
    "You cannot just walk into Buckingham Palace."
    "I am royalty offering my congratulations, and a suitable gift, to a great Queen on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee. Nothing could be more proper."
    "What gift?"
    "That exquisite French vase that I packed just before we left."
    "You can't do it," insisted Greta, half shocked, half amused.
    "Greta, I will wager you a new hat that I get into the Palace and out again without anyone discovering the truth."
    "Splendid," said Greta with spirit. "I need a new hat."
    Ola threw her an impish look. "Now what shall I wear?"
    Still grumbling, Greta took out one of Ola's smartest walking gowns, with a matching hat. Ola had never worn them before, because they had seemed too sophisticated for the wilds of Scotland. Now she was in the right place for such clothes.
    Just before she left she took a plain card from her bag and wrote on it:
    'To Her Majesty Queen Victoria, with respect and admiration.
    From Princess Relola of Oltenitza.'
    Underneath she added the date: June 13th, 1887.
    Downstairs Greta led the way out to a cab and gave the driver the address, Buckingham Palace. Deeply impressed he touched his hat and held the door open for the two great ladies.
    The carriage did not take long to reach Buckingham Palace.
    It was stopped at the gates. A man in uniform opened the door to ask,
    "May I enquire, Madam, for what reason you are coming here at this moment?"
    It was Greta who replied.
    "This is Her Royal Highness, Princess Relola of Oltenitza," she told him, "bringing greetings and a gift to Her Majesty on this important occasion."
    The officer saluted, shut the door and said to the driver,
    "Pass on."
    The carriage drove to the back of the building.
    Ola saw there was a door with two sentries on either side of it. As the cab drew up another man came forward, opened the door and she stepped out. Then, followed by Greta, she walked inside.
    There she saw a dark suited man, standing beside a table on which there were a number of parcels which had been handed in. She walked imperiously towards him and spoke, taking care to assume an accent like Greta's so that he should not suspect that she was English.
    "Princess Relola of Oltenitza. My gift is not only from myself but from all my countrymen, who wish Her Majesty well on this great occasion."
    The man bowed, and ceremoniously received the parcel from her.
    She had done it. She had managed to get into the Palace, and had now only to leave to have secured a triumph. But a little imp of daring, suppressed too long, prodded her to say.
    "I have come a very long way from a distant country. I wonder if I might see some part of the Palace before I go."
    He looked surprised. But then another man appeared through a door and he said,
    "A moment please, Your Royal Highness."
    He hastened to the newcomer and spoke in a fierce whisper. Ola could just hear odd words.
    " - Palace - Princess Relola - what am I to do, Your Grace?"
    The man he had called 'Your Grace' then said, "I will see to it."
    He walked towards Ola and she had time to see that he was about thirty years old, and very good looking.
    "Good morning," he said, with a respectful bow. "I understand that Your Royal Highness has brought a present for the Queen. Her Majesty will be most grateful to you."
    "Do you think she would allow me to see a little of her Palace?" Ola asked with a smile. "I've come all the way from the Balkans, and my people will want to know how your Palace compares with ours."
    "I will show you what I can," the man promised. "But it's really the job of your Embassy to arrange anything like this."
    Ola gave a cry.
    "Hush! Hush!" she exclaimed. "I don't want them to know I am here."
    He raised his