De Vaucluse, not understanding the other’s meaning, regarded him with a startled look.
“I am alluding, dear citoyen, to the privately-expressed opinion of Paul’s chief physician, Wylie.”
The Ambassador’s brow cleared. He had thought the other was about to announce the existence of a conspiracy for the assassination of the Czar.
“Physicians’ forecasts are not always right. What has the Scotsman been saying?”
“Paul has had of late several strokes of apoplexy, each one more serious than the last. In Wylie’s opinion the next is likely to prove fatal. Now, neither you nor I can afford to see Paul go, for Alexander’s accession will mean the end of the Franco-Russian Alliance.”
This was a fact as well-known to the Marquis as it was to Baranoff.
“Any undue excitement,” continued the Count, “any undue rage will carry him off.”
“The remedy is obvious,” smiled De Vaucluse. “His immediate entourage must take every precaution to prevent him from exciting himself.”
“That is very good counsel of yours,” said Baranoff in a dry tone, “but, unfortunately, your charming but too generously-impulsive daughter has this day done a deed likely to raise the Czar’s wrath to a dangerous point.”
“And, therefore,” said the Marquis, “he must be kept in ignorance of Pauline’s act.”