Summary
In a masterstroke of monarchical subterfuge, the libertine Prince Damilo of Cardania, weary of his dalliances and drawn by the gravitational pull of his heavily fortified, meticulously surveilled dominion, orchestrates an audacious return to claim his rightful regency. To circumvent the prying eyes and political machinations inherent in such a transition, Damilo enlists the prodigious talents of detective Stuart Webbs. Webbs is tasked with the unenviable charade of embodying the prince, a grand theatrical deception designed to divert attention while the true heir embarks on his clandestine journey. The detective's tenure as faux royalty proves a relentless gauntlet, a constant tightrope walk of maintaining princely decorum amidst a deluge of eager courtiers, sycophants, and even the inconvenient presence of a fellow sleuth, Sanftlieb, who threatens to unravel the intricate tapestry of lies. Only through the strategic interventions and diplomatic finesse of the envoy Cartagi is Webbs able to sustain the illusion, a precarious masquerade that endures just long enough for the authentic regent to finally reach the sanctuary of his ancestral home, leaving behind a wake of bewildered admirers and a truly remarkable feat of impersonation.
Synopsis
Prince Damilo of Cardania, who is besotted by numerous women, wants to return to his strictly shielded and monitored homeland to take up the regency there. In order to be able to travel undetected, the ruler-to-be asks Stuart Webbs to slip into his role for a while while he takes off in disguise. The detective has every effort to keep the numerous people who want to gather around him in his role as Prince Damilo, including a fellow detective named Sanftlieb, at a distance. With the help of the envoy Cartagi, however, he is able to plausibly hold the princely position until the true regent has reached his home.
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