"No, Baron Heckscher, you will not," I answered firmly, shaking my head. "I know the whole of this inner plot of yours, and can expose it, and will, too, as I told you last night."
"Possibly an effective weapon in a stage-play," he sneered. "But I have no time for folly of this sort."
He crossed the room to the bell, and stretched out his hand as if to ring it.
"I know the scheme to marry my cousin to a man already married, and so to betray and ruin her. And, mark me, if you attempt to send me away, I will go straight to Berlin and denounce the whole of your foul treachery against that girl."
"You speak a fool's tale!" he cried angrily, though he withdrew his hand from the bell.
"Maybe, but even a fool's tale, as you call it, can be sifted. Your scheme now seems on the point of succeeding. The gist of it is that when my cousin Minna is not forthcoming—through your own machinations, mark you—the cry should be raised for the Duke Marx. I have known that throughout, and I too have had my plans. You will find it difficult to play your game of chess without the King."
I enjoyed the start of surprise my words caused. It was now my turn to smile with an air of confidence.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked, frowning.
"All that is in your thoughts, and more," said I significantly.
"What do you mean?" he repeated, coming toward me and looking searchingly at me.