"Well, then, do as you choose, but do not ask me to communicate my discoveries. Good-night, father; I feel tired, I will go to sleep."
Passing her father, she approached the door. But just as she was about to open it, he laid his hand on her arm and stopped her.
"Stubborn girl," he said, smiling, "I see that your will must be obeyed to induce you to speak. Well, then, I swear that, if the person who comes to murder Napoleon is Baron von Kolbielsky, I will let him escape if he falls into my hands."
"Swear it by my mother's spirit and memory."
"I swear it by your mother's spirit and memory. But now, Leonore, speak. Have you really discovered a conspiracy?"
"Yes, I have discovered a conspiracy, and, thank heaven, I can tell you everything—the names of all the conspirators; for he is not among them—he has nothing to do with this crazy, reckless affair. Father, you can tell Napoleon that a widespread conspiracy exists, and that it even has numerous adherents in his own army. The most aristocratic members of it were present at my entertainment and held a consultation here. Colonel Mariage, as you know, had begged me to give him and his friends a room where they could talk undisturbed."
"And you gave him the little red drawing-room didn't you?"
"Yes. I gave them the little red drawing-room, which is reached from this boudoir. I was in the niche and heard all."
"So it is really an actual conspiracy?" asked her father, with a happy smile.
"Really an actual conspiracy," she repeated gravely, "and unless you warn the Emperor Napoleon, unless you save him, he will be a lost man within a week, even if that murderer's dagger should not strike him."