The two gentlemen seated themselves silently; Weingarten took a seat in front of them.
A painful, embarrassed pause ensued. The majestic Baron von Waltz looked silently at the ceiling, while the black, piercing eyes of the little Councillor Zetto examined the countenance of Weingarten with a strangely searching and penetrating expression.
“You are from Vienna?” said Weingarten at last, putting an end to this painful silence.
“We are from Vienna,” answered the baron, with a grave bow. “And have travelled here post-haste to have an interview with you.”
“With me?” asked the secretary of legation, astonished.
“With you alone,” said the baron, gravely.
“We wish you to do the King of Prussia a great service,” said Zetto, solemnly.
Weingarten reddened, and said confusedly: “The King of Prussia! You forget, gentlemen, that my services belong alone to the Empress Maria Theresa.”
“He defends himself before he is accused,” said Zetto, aside. “It is then true, as we have been told, he is playing a double game—serves Austria and Prussia at the same time.” Turning to Baron Weingarten, he said: “That which we ask of you will be at the same time a service to our gracious empress, for certainly it would not only distress, but compromise her majesty, if an Austrian officer committed a murder in Prussia.”
“Murder!” cried the secretary of legation.