Rollmar gave him a curiously indefinable look.
“My plan is an alliance between our Princess and the reigning King of Drax-Beroldstein,” he said quietly.
CHAPTER XXVI
IRROMAR’S TRICK
AS Count Irromar went to fetch the Princess, he was concocting a scheme, daring as became his nature, but one which at a stroke should add immensely to his power and change his position from that of an outlaw, an almost brigand noble, to that of a recognized member of the aristocracy of the land. He would make a bold bid for the royal favour and countenance; once they were his, he could trust to his wealth, to his energy, his acquirements, and above all, his will, to give him social position and rehabilitation. It was a flattering plan, and the chance of the moment seemed to have brought to his hand the instrument by which this seemingly impossible metamorphosis could be effected. He had learnt from Rollmar, in no wise loath to tell him, that King Ludwig was waiting not far from his castle presumably to know the result of the Chancellor’s negotiation. That being so, and with a shrewd idea of the old intriguer’s acquiescence, the rest was, to a man of his resources, easy.
When he came into the room—having sent Ruperta urgent word that he must see her, even at that late hour—she wondered what new trick or persecution this was to be, but her apprehension was manifest only in her quick glance of enquiry at his face. Otherwise she looked as imperiously calm as ever.
“I have news for you,” he began, “two pieces of news, one good and the other doubtful, since I know not how you may receive it.”
“What are they, Count?” she asked, on the alert for a new mark of duplicity.
“You shall hear the least pleasant first,” he replied, with a courteous deference which contrasted with the half-veiled insolence of his late manner. “Baron von Rollmar is here.”
The announcement was indeed startling, and made her look up quickly with a flush of surprise.
“Baron von Rollmar here? The Chancellor?”