“A very clever point, my dear, but it does not overcome my difficulty. There might be a dozen reasons why the rascal would not incriminate himself to any stranger who thus took him by surprise. However, it is useless to argue the question, for I persuade you as little as you persuade me. The practical thing is to fathom the misunderstanding, and remove it. Will you assist me in this?”
“Willingly, if I can, Guardian.”
“Very well. I must first inform you that your imprisonment is likely to be very short. You are to know that the harmony supposed to exist in Stolzenfels is largely mythical: I left behind me the seeds of discord. I proposed that the glum niece of Treves, whom you met at our historic lunch, should be the future Empress. This nomination was seconded by Mayence himself, and received with unconcealed joy by my brother of Treves.”
“Then for once the Court was unanimous? I think your choice an admirable one.”
“The Archbishop of Mayence does not agree with you, my dear.”
“Then why did he second your nomination?”
“Because he is so much more clever than Treves, who a few minutes later would have been the seconder.”
“Why should his Lordship of Mayence think one thing and act another?”
“Why is he always doing it? No one can guess what Mayence really thinks, if he is judged by what he says. Were Treves’ niece to become Empress, her uncle would speedily realize his power, and Mayence would lose his leadership. Could Mayence to-day secretly promote you to the position of Empress, he would gladly do so.”
“But won’t he at once look for some one else?”