“That means,” I said, “that she has recognised the ring, and that the Queen does not know who he is.”
“Yes,” John said, slowly, “Yes. We ought to get out of this. And we ought to hurry. This is a particularly nasty mess for those two women.”
“Helena and Marie?” I asked.
“No. Marie and the Queen. Helena is safer right here, I believe, than she would be anywhere. They aren’t afraid of her while she’s here, and they are afraid of the other two. It’s not normal to hurt people unless you are afraid of them. I think we ought to try to take that message to Yolanda, and try to get it there before anything breaks that the Black Ghost may consider an opportunity, and turn to his own advantage at their cost.”
“I agree,” I said, “but I hope we don’t get caught. It’s been a nice world so far.”
“Don’t worry,” John said, “I think we have a friend among our jailors.”
“The Black Ghost?” I asked, “don’t fool yourself. He is merely showing off his gentlemanly manners.”
John laughed, “I know that,” he said, “but as we came down the hall I saw a green velvet gown in one of those rooms, and unless it’s a uniform, it belongs to the Countess Visichich.”
“I saw that,” I said. “I wasn’t going to tell you.”
He laughed. “Afraid to spoil my faith in the lady’s morals?” he asked. “Nonsense, Carvin. I don’t know anything about her, but she’s politician first, and I’d be willing to put a big wager on her—well, on her being mostly just politician, at least so far. She had an unattached look about the eyes.”