“Goldsturmer,” said Madame, “is a devil. He will not trust me for one day, although he knows Konrad well.”
Goldsturmer would probably have said that he refused to trust Madame because he knew Konrad well.
Gorman promised to lay the Salissa proposal before Donovan, and to get him, if possible, to pay at least ten thousand of the purchase money in advance.
“But above all,” said the King, “let him hold tight to his tongue, and you, my friend Gorman. This is no affair about which a song can be made in the market place. If the Emperor were to hear a whisper—Gorman, you do not know the Emperor. His ears are long. If he were to hear there would be an end. There would be no sale.”
“Donovan,” said Gorman, “would probably offer the Emperor five per cent. of the purchase money if there was any trouble.”
“Five per cent.!” said the King. “The Emperor! God in heaven!”
King Konrad Karl probably feared God in heaven very little. But there is no doubt that he had a nervous dread of the Emperor.