"Can I believe you?" he asked at length slowly.
"You can please yourself."
"It might be possible," he said thoughtfully, and as if half communing with himself. "You say your terms are that the countess be at once released? What use will she make of her liberty? Or rather, what use will you make of it for her? If she is released, when will the Duke Marx return to Munich? And where would the Countess Minna be?"
I saw his drift in a moment.
"You mean, will I undertake that she is away long enough for this scheme of yours to go through even now?"
"You can put it that way."
"I must see her for myself before I answer."
"Even that might be practicable," he replied cautiously. "I will see."
"Where is she?"
"If this is done, and she is willing, do you pledge yourself to get her away out of the country for the present?"