'The question is where I can pass the night and wait till to-morrow, so that they may not know that I have arrived. I am sure that they will not give orders that I am not to be admitted to the court; by my right and my rank I have free access to the King at any hour. At eleven o'clock the King is alone; Brühl is not with him.'
The Jesuit listened attentively, not showing what he thought of the Count's plan.
'You have nothing to lose, you must try to win,' he said.
'Will you have the courage to let me sleep here?' asked Sulkowski with a smile of doubt.
'You are welcome; my humble dwelling is at your service. You are safe here, for nobody calls on me.'
Sulkowski's eyes shone.
'If I am able to see the King, I am sure of winning--'
'May God help you,' whispered Vogler.
The next morning Brühl heard through Henniche, that Sulkowski was not expected to arrive for two more days. In the court the whole plot had been kept in great secresy; the Countess Sulkowski, whom the Queen always received very kindly had not the slightest suspicion. The King was in an excellent humour.
Early in the morning Brühl came to the King for his orders, and having left Guarini with him, returned to his palace. Here he changed his clothes, because the etiquette required him to do so several times during the day, and ordered his porte-chaise to carry him to the Countess Moszynski. He now felt at home in her house, for her husband had died a few months previously, and Brühl was certain that she was too much in love with him to marry anybody else. His relations of tender friendship with the beautiful widow were no secret. Every day he would take counsel with her, every morning the Countess Moszynski would visit him. It was known that she did what she pleased with him. Very often when they had something very urgent to communicate to the minister, for he did nothing without her advice, they would go to the Countess to find him there.