“Not so, my Lord. I have examined the castle well, and I think were I entrusted with the commission I could reduce it.”
“Ah, now we have modesty indeed! You can take the stronghold where I should fail.”
“I did not say that you would fail, my Lord. I said that twenty thousand men marching up the valley would fail, unless they were content to sit around the castle for four years or more.”
“Answered like a courtier, Heinrich. What, then, is your method of attack?”
“On the height to the east, which is the nearest elevation to the castle, a strong fortress might be built, that would in a measure command the Schloss Eltz, although I fear the distance would be too great for any catapult to fling stones within its courtyard. Still, we might thus have complete power over the entrance to the schloss, and no more provender could be taken in.”
“You mean, then, to wear Von Eltz out? That would be as slow a method as besiegement.”
“To besiege would require an army, my Lord, and would have this disadvantage, that, besides withdrawing from other use so many of your men, rumour would spread abroad that the Count held you in check. The building of a fortress on the height would merely be doing what the Count has already done, and it could be well garrisoned by twoscore men at the most, vigilant night and day to take advantage of any movement of fancied security to force way into the castle. There need be no formal declaration of hostilities, but a fortress built in all amicableness, to which the Count could hardly object, as you would be but following his own example.”
“I understand. We build a house near his for neighbourliness. There is indeed much in your plan that commends itself to me, but I confess a liking for the underlying part of a scheme. Remains there anything else which you have not unfolded to me?”
“Placing in command of the new fortress a stout warrior who was at the same time a subtle man——”
“In other words, thyself, Heinrich—well, what then?”