The slender fingers of the journalist found themselves suddenly within the brown, sinewy hand of the King. There was an instant’s silence—a man’s silence. Then Brand continued—
“Mr. Ellis, our Minister there, is your friend, but he is a weak, colourless creature, and he gives no weight or point to his reports. He tries hard to be honest, but he is wofully under the influence of the others. And the others——”
“I know,” the King interrupted. “Austria, Germany, and Russia have come to a secret understanding, and somehow I fancy that Turkey is involved in it. But what pretext they can find for movement against me, or from what quarter I am to expect the aggression I cannot say.”
“It is what I have just discovered,” Brand said.
The King’s eyes flashed. He was a brave man, but the cloud of doubt had been stupefying. It was this knowledge for which he craved.
“It is Russia who is the moving spirit,” Brand continued.
“Russia, of course,” the King exclaimed, bitterly. “An independent Theos has always been against her policy. She debauched the Republic, she tried—as you well know, Brand—to make my accession a virtual Russian protectorate.”
“And, further,” Brand said, “she has actually in London stooped to this. Our paper has been approached by an agent of the Russian government with a view to purchasing a cessation of our support of you. I myself, your Majesty, feel myself deeply to blame. Weeks ago I could have warned you that Domiloff was still in the capital plotting against you. I kept silent. I beg that you will not ask me why. The news which has brought me here now has come by cipher telegram from my chief. A secret treaty has been signed between Russia and Turkey. The terms I do not know, but Turkey is left free to attack you at once, and she is already moving troops and guns to the frontier.”
“Germany?” Ughtred asked, quickly.