"Then who are you?"

"It is really immaterial who I am, but since the matter seems to
interest you, Mr. Von Bork, I may say that this is not my first
acquaintance with the members of your family. I have done a good
deal of business in Germany in the past and my name is probably
familiar to you."

"I would wish to know it," said the Prussian grimly.

"It was I who brought about the separation between Irene Adler
and the late King of Bohemia when your cousin Heinrich was the
Imperial Envoy. It was I also who saved from murder, by the
Nihilist Klopman, Count Von und Zu Grafenstein, who was your
mother's elder brother. It was I--"

Von Bork sat up in amazement.

"There is only one man," he cried.

"Exactly," said Holmes.

Von Bork groaned and sank back on the sofa. "And most of that
information came through you," he cried. "What is it worth?
What have I done? It is my ruin forever!"

"It is certainly a little untrustworthy," said Holmes. "It will
require some checking and you have little time to check it. Your
admiral may find the new guns rather larger than he expects, and