'Ah! if you would also believe me!'
The Count was silent and tried to control his impatience.
'Count,' said Faustina, 'is it true that you are going away, that you leave the place to your foes?'
Sulkowski laughed.
'I have no foes,' he said quietly, 'and were I so fortunate as to have them, (for I should consider it an honour to gain enemies by serving the King), I should not be afraid of them.'
'Do not mistrust me,' rejoined Faustina. 'But from behind the stage one sees the world well and one knows people better than in the drawing-room. Count, I am a friend of yours, for you love the King and you wish for the welfare of this country which I consider my second fatherland. You wish that others also loved the King but they think only of themselves and do not care about the country at all.'
Sulkowski frowned.
'But who? Who?'
'Are you blind then?' Faustina exclaimed. 'Do you not see anything? Have I to open your eyes? The Queen is jealous of the King's favours towards you, the almighty Padre Guarini is your foe and Brühl your rival. They made a plot secretly, they send you away in order to take from you the King's heart. And you do not see it! That man will take your place!'
Saying this she wrung her hands; Sulkowski listened; his pale face flushed.