The Baron shook his head. “No—nothing. I was only curious as to what uniform he would wear.”
A faint smile touched the Count’s thin lips.
“But more particularly curious as to who would wear it,” he remarked dryly.
Retz swung around and faced him.
“My lord,” he said, “I would ask you, who is King in Valeria: the Archduke Armand or Ferdinand of Lotzen?”
The old Minister’s smile chilled to a sneer.
“That is a most astonishing question from the chief law officer of the kingdom,” he said.
“But not so astonishing as that he should be compelled to ask it,” was the quick answer.
“Is there, then, monsieur, any doubt in your mind as to the eldest male of the House of Dalberg?”
“None whatever; but can you assure us that he is king?”