“If Karl demanded it.”
“God forbid!” cried the King-Elector hastily.
“Oh, Sweden would be merciful,” said Aurora impatiently, “as I told you, it is his rôle.”
“He would not be merciful to Patkul,” replied Augustus, “who, besides, is Peter’s envoy, and sacred.”
“Oh, bah!” exclaimed Aurora, with a flash of her gorgeous eyes. “What is the Czar to you, or what has he done for you that he should be considered?”
“My honor and the law of nations——” began Augustus.
The Countess speedily demolished this masculine defense.
“Where,” she asked acutely, “was either, when you attacked the King of Sweden?”
As this action had been contrary to both, the King-Elector had nothing to reply; rather pale, he stared at the ground.
“You see,” added Aurora, anxious to soothe now that she had silenced, “it is not, and never has been, any question of any law or any honor, but simply of each man for himself in a desperate game.”