“Warfare to-day,” he answered, “can be determined on mathematical lines. Bravery is a delightful quality in the abstract, but brave men are killed as easily as cowards. Tell me, have you spoken with your brother?”
“Yes!”
“He will not consent to this Van Decht alliance?”
“No!”
Domiloff smiled.
“It is good,” he answered. “I think that the time has come when I may approach him myself.”
She shook her head.
“He is wild with the excitement of fighting,” she said. “The King and he have fought together, and Nicholas speaks of him as a brave comrade and a patriot. Last night he wrote to me from Solika, and he spoke of the King as a brother. For the moment he has forgotten all about the Van Decht alliance. Take my advice—leave Nicholas alone.”
Domiloff looked out into the night, frowning and thoughtful.
“When the tide of battle changes,” he said, “your brother’s enthusiasm will wane. He will remember the slight upon you—upon his name.”