"A murderer!" she said, shuddering; "my God, suppose it should be he!"
"The emperor has received an anonymous letter from Hungary, in which he is informed that, during the course of the next week, a young man will come to Schönbrunn to murder him.[D] I suppose that this comes directly from the Emperor Francis' court at Totis. Some fanatic has told the Emperor Francis that he will go there to murder his hated foe, and the kind-hearted emperor, in his magnanimity has sent this warning to Napoleon."
"And he was in Totis," said Leonore, trembling, under her breath, "and he told me that in a week something decisive would happen."
"You are silent, Leonore?" asked her father. "Have you nothing to tell me?"
She started from her sorrowful reverie; a bold, resolute fire again flashed in her eyes. "I have many things to tell you, many important things," she replied. "But I will not utter a single word unless you first take an oath."
"What oath?"
"The oath that, if it is Kolbielsky who comes to murder Napoleon, you will warn him and let him escape."
"But how am I to warn him in advance, since the probability is that, if I really catch him, it will be at the moment of the deed."
"Well, then, you will let him escape at that moment, if it is Kolbielsky."
"But that is impossible, Leonore! You will understand yourself that it is impossible."