"That is to say, she is coming if you think you can manage it quite safely."
"I manage it? My dear Countess, why speak of managing a thing that is so obviously to be desired?"
"You don't understand. Can you smuggle her into the castle without any one knowing a thing about it? You see, she is being watched every minute of the time by detectives, spies, secret agents, lawyers, and Heaven knows who else. The instant she leaves Paris, bang! It will be like the starter's shot in a race. They will be after her like a streak. And if you are not very, very clever they will play hob with everything."
"Then why run the risk?" I ventured.
"My two brothers are coming with her," she said reassuringly. "They are such big, strong fellows that—"
"My dear Countess, it isn't strength we'll need," I deplored.
"No, no, I quite understand. It is cunning, strategy, caution, and all that sort of thing. But I will let you know in ample time, so that you may be prepared."
"Do!" I said gallantly, trying to be enthusiastic.
"You are so wonderfully ingenious at working out plots and conspiracies in your books, Mr. Smart, that I am confident you can manage everything beautifully."
Blatchford was removing my salad plate. A spasm of alarm came over me. I had quite forgotten the two men. The look of warning I gave her brought forth a merry, amused smile.