"I have done so already."
"Oh! What do you think of it?"
"I beg to say that you ought to be prepared to go home and get the money together to pay the costs—for you will infallibly lose the case."
"Then my son and I are ruined!"
"Unless you have friends at court to counterbalance the influence of the Saluces brothers, who are linked with three parts of the courtiers. In fact, I know not if they have an enemy."
"I am sorry to hear your Excellency say this."
"I am sorry to say so, for I really wanted to be useful to your ladyship."
The countess shuddered at the tone of feigned kindness, for she seemed to catch a glimpse of something dark in the mind, if not the speech of the chancellor; if that obscurity could be swept away she fancied she would see something favorable to her.
"Do you know nobody at court?" he insisted.