Read "The Weight of the Crown" by Fred M. White online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Lechmere bought a paper and read the paragraph for himself. It seemed strange that this thing should happen at a time when everybody was talking of Asturia and its rulers. First there was the sensational interview in the 'Mercury' to set all tongues talking and then, almost before the public had grasped what had happened, the 'Herald' came out with a flat contradiction and a dignified statement to the effect that the 'Mercury' had been hoaxed by an impudent practical joker.
Here was an excellent chance for the evening papers and they did their best to make a good thing of it. But the more things came to be investigated the firmer became the position of the 'Herald.' Beyond all doubt the real king had been safe at Merehaven House at the very time when his deputy was closeted with the editor of the 'Mercury.'