“With my life, Excellency. Of course you have a plan.”
“Yes. I mean you to get together a strong band of resolute men to be instantly available to form a guard round her house. They must be men on whom we can depend; and we will pay them liberally. How many can you get?”
“I could get a thousand to take your money and promise; and I might find fifty or less who might keep their promises; and, perhaps, five or six who would be absolutely reliable. It would depend.”
“On what?”
“On whom Mademoiselle had to be defended against. If against the mob it would be easy, but not against soldiers, Excellency.”
“It will probably be against the soldiery.”
He shook his head doubtingly. “It would be very difficult,” he said.
“It has to be done, Karasch,” I declared firmly. “The Princess’s life may depend upon it.”
“Where twenty men would face the sticks and stones of a mob, scarce one of them would stand before the bayonets or bullets of the troops, Excellency. Should we be inside the house?”
“No, outside.”