“I am glad—and proud.”
No answer that she could have made could have filled me with more supreme pleasure.
“I had feared a quite different result from news which reached me to-day. You know your affairs are pretty freely discussed just now.”
“What news was that?”
“I heard that you had received a captain’s commission in the Prince’s own household regiment. Is that so?”
“It was unsolicited by me; and I learnt it only to-day. I have not yet accepted it. I am to see His Highness to-morrow.”
“You will find him a good man, but sorely distracted by doubts and fears. All willing to serve Bulgaria; but afraid of Russian influence, and unable to choose good advisers here. His nerves have been shaken by the plots against his life, and his judgment shattered till he cannot appraise the men about him. Were matters different he would be an ideal ruler for us.”
“And what of the other influences round him?” I asked guardedly; but she understood me and replied openly:
“You mean the woman whose life you saved. I cannot understand her. Her ruling passion seems to be her hate of me. And a woman with a passion, be it jealousy, hate, or love, is no safe guide.” I detected a note of sadness in her tone. “You ran a great risk that night, Count, a fearful risk.”
“There was little danger that I saw.”