“To—to the Metropolitan, Excellency.”
“You are telling me lies.”
“No, no, indeed, Excellency. I will swear it by the Holy Fire, by all the saints! We of the lower levels are not admitted into the possession of important secrets, but we conjectured among ourselves that the Metropolitan was meant.”
“Well, be careful. To continue: the King and Queen were to be imprisoned in the Bishop’s Palace, which is capable of standing a siege; and when the conversion was effected, the Queen was to be further compelled to place the kingdom under the protection of Scythia, and request the favour and support of the Emperor?”
“Yes, Excellency.”
“And if by any chance I did not start to-night for Bellaviste, I was to be killed?”
“That is only natural, Excellency.”
“Quite so. Well, I will take you with me to Bellaviste when I start to-night.”
“You start to-night, Excellency? But—the station is watched. Their Majesties will not be allowed to travel.”
“That need not interfere with my journey. I have unmasked plots before this one, my friend. You see this cigarette-case with the monogram in brilliants? I will place it on the edge of the table close to you. Lower your left hand—be careful, I am ready to shoot—take the case, and put it in your right-hand outside pocket. You understand? Good.”