“Well,” she remarked, “he is capable of keeping his word.”
Count Piper glanced at the downcast and weary face of Viktoria Falkenberg; she sat next to him and spoke, under the little murmur of talk that had arisen since the King’s departure.
“He will do, your master,” she said, “he is quite heartless, quite just, and inhumanly strong.”
“You spoke to him?”
She raised her eyes.
“Our interview was not what you think. We have really no interest in each other.”
Count Piper could not pretend to understand her; nor did he really care to explore the intricacies of feminine sentiment and feminine intrigue; if Viktoria Falkenberg was not going to influence King Karl she ceased to in the least concern Count Piper.
“His Majesty will help Gottorp, you think?” asked the Duchess.
“I think so,” said Count Piper.
He hastened his dinner that he might rejoin the King, who was already, he knew, in his cabinet.