“Then I think you’d better go to work indirectly, Prince,” I said in a very deliberate tone. “If I don’t accept implicitly the explanation you’ve just given me, don’t blame me. You must set it down against that knack of yours to say one thing and mean another. Yes, I think on the whole it had better be indirectly. I see a little flaw in your plan.”
“Had we not better avoid personalities and insults, M. Denver?”
“You mean about your little knacks. Is that an insult? I thought it was a canon of European diplomacy according to Talleyrand—that language is given us to conceal our thoughts. I meant it as an explanation, not an insult.”
“You prefer to meet these charges?”
“Oh, yes. I don’t see any difficulty in them. As for the murder charge, I happen to have at command the evidence of the man who was with Vastic at the time, and he can prove I acted in self-defence.”
“The testimony of a fugitive Nihilist,” he rapped out.
“True, but still testimony; and as I’m an American, it will have to be a fair and open trial. There is also Mademoiselle Helga’s evidence. Yes, on the whole, I’m disposed to take that risk. As to the treason business, do you really think you’d better prove that? It was your idea that I should play the part of Emperor, and you furnished me with forged documents and other lies to get those papers back; and as you’re making it an international matter, it would make rather an awkward story. Still, do as you like. But you haven’t frightened me. I don’t think there’s a bullet in the cartridge. Go right ahead anyway, pull the trigger, and we’ll see.”
“I can do what I have said, nevertheless, monsieur.”
“Possibly you think so—possibly, I say. But I don’t agree with you. You see, my father is not only a rich man, but has a heap of influence at the White House. If I remember, too, he has a bit of a grievance against Russia; and he’d make things hum a lot if you monkey with me. I hadn’t thought of bringing him into it, but I believe it would be the best thing. Helga and I were trying to think of the best way out when you came, and I’m hanged if I don’t think you’ve given me just the cue I wanted.”
“You think, perhaps, he could save the mademoiselle?”