“I shall gladly answer any question the Council may ask. The only time I ever saw either Book or box was the day the King offered me my inheritance as the heir of Hugo.”
And once again came Lotzen’s sneering interruption.
“And yet you could instruct Count Epping just how to manipulate the key:—‘turn the bit sidewise and push down and in.’”
Retz half closed his eyes and smiled; Epping’s lips grew tighter; Duval and Marquand frowned; Steuben, with a last fierce tug at his beard, relapsed into silence.
But Armand met the issue squarely.
“It is my word against your inference,” he said. “I am quite content to let the Council choose. They, too, have seen that key used but once, and yet I venture that a year hence they also will remember the peculiar motion it requires.”
“They are much more likely to remember your ready wit and clever tongue,” Lotzen retorted.
The Archduke turned from him to the Council.
“My lords,” he said, “there is small profit to you in these personal recriminations. The question is, who is King of Valeria, Ferdinand of Lotzen or myself—and as only the Book of Laws can answer, I ask that you, yourselves, search King Frederick’s apartments and interrogate his particular attendants.”
Count Epping arose. “Will the Minister of Justice aid in the search,” he said—“and also Your Royal Highness?” addressing Lotzen.