“Is that a mouthpiece question or your own?”
“Petrosch might like to know,” he laughed, stroking his moustache; “but of course I shan’t tell him a word you don’t wish me to repeat. He doesn’t think you came here with any thought of such business; but he does want to kill the chance of your doing any with others than the army.”
“If the army really holds the key to the position I might wish to have their influence for a certain purpose.”
“He’s a cute devil, and that’s the truth. That’s just how he summed up your visit. But of course he doesn’t know what the purpose is.”
“Could the influence be got?”
“My dear Bergwyn, anything could be got in this little kingdom of ours—at a price. I fancy his notion is that you are after a title of some sort, or some concessions, and are ready to buy them by floating this loan. That’s the idea in the Court too, I know. I chuckled when I heard it—but then I know you and they don’t.”
“No. I don’t want either a title or concessions; but I can see now the gist of certain hints thrown out this morning. What I do want is to get to the bottom of certain things here in the first place. You’ve spoken freely enough about the army, are you at liberty to talk about other matters?”
“Of course I am. Fire away, ask what you like.”
“What are the Court intentions about the succession?”
“The Queen means to secure it for her brother—and it’s that which has put the final touch to the army discontent. They simply won’t have him; and yet it’s a fact that the formal pronouncement in his favour is actually drawn up. Some of our people have seen the document. Of course it’s a secret; but we’ve got friends even in the Palace itself.”