“Let me put a question to you,” I said, as a thought occurred to me. “Who told you of the Queen’s intentions in regard to Prince Albrevics?”
“I cannot tell you that.”
“Then I will tell you. It was the Baroness von Tulken.” There was no need for her to say in words that my guess was right. Her start and glance did that.
“I am almost afraid of you,” she said.
“I don’t wish that; but I would rather have fear than mistrust. These things have been told to me plainly by those who seek to get the money I am able to control. It was only a guess that the Baroness had told you; and I will give you her motive. She desires to influence you to marry the Duke Barinski under the pretence that the marriage would reconcile the rival interests of the two contending families, and, having Russia behind it, would render the throne secure.”
Her surprise at my knowledge of these things was so great that it appeared to dwarf the significance of the news itself.
“It is wonderful,” she exclaimed.
“The wonder is rather that while so many people know of all this, you yourself have remained ignorant of it so long. Can you bear that I tell you still more?”
“Is there more to tell? I am already filled with amazement.”
“Do you know the intentions of the army leaders? I mean so far as they affect you?”