“I trust she may, if it is put before her suddenly. If she had time to think over it, I agree with you that there would be no hope. You see how the thing works out. I must pretend to start for Bellaviste as I had arranged to do, in order to avert suspicion; but you must let me into the Villa again by the private stairway. Then we must lay the matter before the Queen, and prevail upon her to start at once. We can only count on being left in peace until the time when the Villa is usually quiet for the night.”
“The risk is terrible. And yet, what else——? But you will never obtain her Majesty’s consent.”
“Then her Majesty will have the pleasure of seeing me shot down before her eyes, I presume. But do you agree to the plan in so far as you are concerned?”
“How can I venture to object to it? It seems the only hope, and you are risking more than the rest of us. A few days’ imprisonment would be the worst punishment we should receive. But the hardships of your journey will be dreadful for women and a child.”
“Better than the dungeons of the Bishop’s palace—that is all one can say. The season is altogether on the side of the conspirators. Then you will come into the scheme, Stefanovics? Now, Paschics, for your part. You have some relations living not far off, I believe?”
“Yes, Excellency; a married brother, who farms his own land.”
“And you did not go to see them at Christmas, I think? Well, it will be convenient if you pay them a visit to-day. Start after lunch, and take a bag—full of presents for the children, or delicacies from the town, or anything of the sort. You may let it be known that you will not be back to-night. At your brother’s, hire his lightest cart, with the two best horses he has, and tell him he will find it the day after to-morrow left for him at No. 4 posting-house on the old road to Bellaviste. Put in some straw—as much as you can—and any rugs you can get to make it comfortable, and as soon as it is dark this evening, drive the cart to the spot where the corner of the Alexova estate touches the old road. Wait there under the trees and give your horses a good feed. If we succeed we will join you; if not, you had better get back to your brother’s as fast as you can, for your own sake. By the bye, could you disguise yourself as a courier?”
“With the greatest ease, your Excellency.”
“Then take with you anything you will require. You will be wanted to-morrow as courier to an English family whose carriage has met with an accident. I will see about the passport.”
“One moment, Count,” said M. Stefanovics, with some embarrassment. “I do not wish to interfere with your excellent plans; but you are, after all, a young man and unmarried. Would it not be more suitable—less open to unfavourable remark—if Madame Stefanovics and I undertook the responsible task of conducting her Majesty’s flight, in conjunction, of course, with M. Paschics?”