Der Stellvertreter

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.