“If he were innocent, why should he plead guilty?” she demanded.
“And if guilty, why should he admit it?” the Archduke asked.
“Because in this case the truth is more misleading than a lie—he had no notion we would believe him.”
“He is a very extraordinary man,” observed Courtney; “his mental processes are beyond belief. Your question was the most amazing I ever heard, and should have been instantly decisive of his guilt or innocence; instead, it has only clouded the matter deeper for you and cleared it completely for him. Your cards are exposed—his are still stacked.”
“They are not stacked to me,” said Dehra; “he is guilty.”
“Then, in that aspect, he has deliberately asked you what you’re going to do about it.”
“I’m going to get the Book—for Adolph I don’t care—I’m glad he killed the little beast.”
“And how,” said Armand, “are we to get the Book? No ordinary means will suffice. Imprisonment would only make a martyr of him and strengthen him enormously with the Nobles and the people; and banishment is absurd; he may be the King.”
“If he has the Book, he would welcome banishment,” said Courtney; “it would relieve him of your espionage. But, Your Highness, let me ask, why should he have it now? Armand admitted to the Council he is ineligible without King Frederick’s decree, so why would Lotzen preserve that decree? The Book is not essential to his title.”
The Princess shook her head incredulously. “Ferdinand of Lotzen is a knave but I won’t believe that of him.... A Dalberg destroy the Dalberg Laws! Inconceivable!—oh, inconceivable!”