"Élisabeth," said Paul. "And here comes Karl. . . ."
The spy stopped on the bottom step and gave his orders to the soldier who acted as chauffeur. Paul caught a syllable here and there.
Their departure was imminent. Another moment and, if Paul raised no obstacle, the car would carry off the assassin and his victim. It was a horrible minute, for Paul Delroze felt all the danger attending an interference which would not even possess the merit of being effective, since Karl's death would not prevent the Comtesse Hermine from pursuing her ends.
Bernard whispered:
"Surely you don't mean to carry away Élisabeth? There's a whole picket of sentries there."
"I mean to do only one thing, to do for Karl."
"And then?"
"Then they'll take us prisoners. We shall be questioned, cross-examined; there will be a scandal. Prince Conrad will take the matter up."
"And we shall be shot. I confess that your plan . . ."
"Can you propose a better one?"