The Count gazed at her with new alarm.
“I cannot say, unless it is because the King believes him to be sincere.”
“Then you were not aware that the man is a cousin of your future Queen?”
This time the Chancellor made no attempt to conceal his astonishment and dismay.
“Great heavens! Is that true?” he exclaimed, with uncourtly freedom.
Hermengarde leaned back, enjoying his confusion, and regarded him with a sardonic smile.
“You see I am your friend, Count. Although you are quite right to be careful, you may find it the best policy to join hands with me, after all.”
Then, before the Count could recover sufficiently from his consternation to make any reply, she added—
“Now, let me point out to you another thing. This man, from what I have heard of him, is not of a character to lend himself for an instant to anything that would be contrary to the code of honour or morals which prevails among his class. Do you suppose, then, that he would remain here on terms of intimacy with Maximilian unless he, at all events, believed that the King meant to marry his cousin honourably? Tell me frankly, are you prepared to see this girl Queen of Franconia, and Herr Mark Chancellor?”
The Count shrank before her searching gaze. But he never spoke frankly; it was by pursuing a very different policy that he had reached and maintained his present position.