'If you know him,' the Countess said, 'you should readily guess. Naturally he will go to Nebigan, where he will shake his head as he used to do and try to see the King, and to intrigue in order to regain his favour.'
Brühl laughed.
'Yes, it is very probable; but, dear Countess--from Nebigan it is not far to Dresden, neither is it far from Königstein--I doubt--'
At that moment a new-comer, Countess Hernberg, the wife of the Austrian envoy, entered. She was a beautiful, black-eyed Viennese, with aristocratic features, who was also Brühl's Egeria, and said without any greeting:
'I make a wager that they go to Vienna.'
Brühl made a grimace.
The two ladies began to converse together and the Countess Moszynski took Brühl aside.
'You make a mistake,' she said. 'Never do anything by halves; you ought to have shut him--'
'The King would never consent,' said Brühl, 'by asking too much, we might make him resist, and Sulkowski would have our heads cut off. Then, I know the Count too well, and that is why I do not fear him, he is a weak-minded man, he cannot make a plot. Before he leaves Nebigan I shall find proofs that he appropriated two million thalers and then Königstein will be justified--'
'Brühl!' laughed the Countess, 'two million thalers--and you--'