"What do you propose to do when we reach Thuron?" asked the Countess.
"I shall first offer some good advice to the Count Heinrich, if he will listen to me."
"What advice?"
"To provision his castle instantly for the coming siege."
"The coming siege? I do not understand you. The country is at peace."
"True, but the peace will be speedily broken. The Archbishop will invest Thuron Castle as soon as he can collect his forces."
The Countess looked at him for some moments with dilated eyes, in which apprehension grew more and more pronounced.
"Do you mean that there will be war because—because of me?"
"Most certainly. Did you not know that?"
The girl arose and regarded him with ever-increasing dismay.