That day Brühl also went to her house as though it were his own. The Countess on seeing him said:
'Has Sulkowski arrived?'
'Not yet! I had news from Pinna; they do not expect him for two days.'
The Countess Moszynski shook her head with evident dissatisfaction.
'It is not natural,' she said, 'it is suspicious. His wife told me that at the latest she expected him last night. Somebody must have warned him.'
'Impossible! Nobody knows!'
The Countess laughed.
'Let us count up how many people know the secret,' she said, counting on her fingers. 'The Queen, the Countess Kolowrath, the King, Guarini, you, I, and to be sure, your wife. If she was not told she would guess: let us add Henniche. Have you ever heard of a secret being kept by eight persons?'
Brühl shook his head carelessly.
'Even if he had learned, it would not help him at all. The Queen wearied the King so much about Sulkowski, that for the sake of his beloved peace he must give him up.'