“Ah, I had not thought of that,” she said, turning and smiling to me. “You will have suffered. It was a mistake, but it would have made no difference in the end. With the new clues which the Duchess Stephanie and this Drexel could give him, the Prince would have found me here. I should not have waited for him indeed, so that by warning me now you have more than made good the mistake.”
“Do you think Boreski has told him anything?”
“No, not Boreski; I am sure of him. It is Drexel. A man when he is afraid for his life is a contemptible creature. But it is his nature,” she said scornfully. “I knew it and knew him. I used him as a tool, and when a tool breaks in your hand, you are fortunate if you are not hurt.”
“The sooner we start the better.” But she was thinking and appeared not to hear me.
“I shall have to begin again,” she said, with quiet resolution. “It is no new experience. I have had to do it two or three times before. My next attempt shall be better planned. Each time I do better—learning from my failures. Next time I shall win.”
“When shall we start?” I asked, as she paused.
“We? If you are wise and take my advice, you will go to your Ambassador, tell him frankly all that has occurred, and get his help.”
“And if I am not wise?” I sought her eyes and we both smiled, and she sighed.
“No, no, you must not.”
“You know that I shall, Helga. Let us be frank.”