Lotzen studied the little valet a bit.
“Clever,” he repeated, “clever ... quite too clever, I fear.” He leaned across and tried the closed lid of the box; it lifted to his hand—and out on the desk dropped the little square of folded paper that had held the lock just out of catch.
“Altogether, too clever,” he concluded, picking it up and looking at it.
“I fixed that in the Council chamber,” Adolph explained; then he stared knowingly at the Duke—“monsieur was behind the curtain when I brought back the box.”
Decidedly, this fellow was not to Lotzen’s liking. He made no reply beyond a quick, sidelong glance, drumming with his finger tips softly on his knee. Then he turned to the desk and tapped the Book of Laws.
“You read this, I suppose, Adolph?” he remarked indifferently.
“King Frederick’s, you mean?—yes, my lord, I did; but that is all—I had no time to read more.”
The Duke nodded, his eyes on the Book.
The valet was becoming uneasy; he fidgeted in his chair, locked and unlocked his hands, listened toward all the doors.
“My lord,” he said, at length, “we may be found here!”