“Aha! and it iss a metter off money? Dere are oder debts newly come to light, and de persons concerned threaten an exposure, and I am to pay down my goot florins in order det de wife and child may nefer know how naughty de fader and husbant wass? But dis iss to atteck morelity, dear Count.”
“No, Chevalier, you are a good deal out. It is a much bigger thing this time—more in my line of business, you will say, than yours.”
“It iss political, den? My frient, I hef always said det Thracia wass too small to hold you. Gif me an outline off your plot. You are aimink to seize Czarigrad, and drife de Roumis out off Europe, det you may set your younk master on de throne off de Cæsars?”
“Wrong again, Chevalier. My plot is not quite so large as that. This is the situation at present,” and Cyril went on to describe the state of affairs in Thracia in much the same terms as he had used to the Queen three days or so before, his host listening intently, and putting in a shrewd inquiry now and then.
“I see,” he said at last; “you wish me to finence dis mofement? I am to profide de millions det must be forthcomink if de refolution iss to succeed?”
“No,” said Cyril, “I don’t want you to throw away your money this time. What I need is a loan, not a gift.”
“A loan? But a loan iss a metter off business, not off friendship. Wid loans one must hef security, formelities off all kinds. What security do you offer?”
“My word.”
“Ah, but det iss not sufficient. You are not an Enklishman now, my dear Count, you are too clefer. By de way, you did not arranche beforehent for your attempted assessination, did you, when you thought it adfisable to take dis little trip to Vienna widout attrectink attention?”
“No, I didn’t. I am really sorry, Chevalier, for it would have rounded off the whole thing beautifully. The affair was a pure coincidence, for the idea had not occurred to me.”