He was talking to gain time, I could see that easily enough.
"There was no one found ready to defend my cousin Gustav from a man who was no better than an assassin," I said, somewhat curtly. "And I have heard that the man is still mixing with some of you."
Von Nauheim's tell-tale face paled at this thrust.
"Your cousin's rashness was the cause of that quarrel, Prince," said the baron, "and it was all against our advice and our most earnest entreaty that the duel ever took place. As to Praga's connection with the matter since, you know, of course, that in affairs of this kind we must use as instruments such as we find ready to hand. But his connection with the movement is of the flimsiest and most superficial kind."
"My cousin's death remains unavenged," I answered sternly.
"It will not remain so," said the baron significantly.
"No, indeed," I returned, intentionally misunderstanding him, "for I myself will call the man to account."
"Not until after our plans have been carried through."
"At the first moment I meet with him," said I, with an air of recklessness.
"This must not be!" exclaimed the baron quickly. "Do you not see what you are doing, Prince? You tell us that if you fall the Countess Minna will desert us and abandon the whole movement on the very eve of its success; and yet in the next breath you declare that you are going to court death by fighting a duel with one of the greatest masters of fencing in Europe. Would you wreck the whole scheme?"