“The Emperor could not repress a slight start.”
‘I have communicated my desire to abdicate,’ he said with a significant intonation, ‘to six persons only. Two of them are brother sovereigns; two are members of my own family; the other two are the Chancellor of the Empire and the Prime Minister of Hungary. Through which of them did you receive your information?’
‘Not one of the persons in your Majesty’s confidence has the slightest idea that I have heard anything whatever on the subject. I must respectfully beg your Majesty not to press me further.’
The aged Emperor was evidently much disturbed.
‘If what you say is true—and I do not doubt your word—the information must have reached you through an intermediary. That is to say, my purpose is known to at least eight persons, in short, to the whole world.’
I held my tongue. It is the art by which I have learned most of my secrets.
After a few minutes’ silent consideration, during which the frown on his face steadily deepened, his Majesty looked at me again.
‘What do you wish to tell me?’
‘I wish to put your Majesty on your guard.’
‘You have done that already, most effectually,’ he interrupted.