“I know you don’t like it if I venture to say a word against your cousin, Ernestine, but at the risk of displeasing you I must tell you this. She is the champion intriguer of Europe, and this projected marriage is merely the finishing touch to her schemes for bringing the whole of the Balkan States under the control of members of her family. She has almost succeeded in plunging the Powers into war already, by the annexation of Rhodope and the betrothal of her elder daughter to young Albrecht of Mœsia, and for years she has been trying to alienate Michael from you and attach him to herself in order to ensure the success of her plans—a success which would in all probability lead at once to the Great War.”
Ernestine sat silent, with the tears rolling down her face. Ottilie’s schemes and their probable result had never been presented to her so baldly before, although an inkling of their nature had forced itself into her mind. But even now, taken at a disadvantage as she was, she refused to yield her point.
“It is very dreadful, Cyril, and perhaps if I had known it all at the time, I would not have entered into the compact. But Michael and Lida shall not be sacrificed now. I will not break the children’s hearts.”
“My dear Ernestine, pray remember their youth. As you said, it is impossible that Michael can have fixed his heart on her as yet. Unless—surely you have not put the idea into his head?”
“No, indeed. We wanted it all to be quite natural and unprompted. They were to grow up together, and drift into love gently.”
“Well, then, the current must be diverted into another channel, that is all. There need be no difficulty about it. When I am gone, send for your boy, and talk to him about next week. Oh, you know the kind of talk I mean. What do women say on such occasions? Then when you have got him into a suitably softened frame of mind, just let out how happy it would make you if you thought he would one day bring home a bride from Hercynia——”
“But it would not. It would make me miserable.”
“If it preserved the peace of Europe, and thwarted your cousin’s ambitious schemes? Besides, Ernestine, this affair has a further significance for us. If we can spoil the Princess of Dardania’s great plan, the Emperors will look kindly upon our marriage.”
“You expect me to sell my son as the price of my own happiness?”
“No, I don’t. I know you far too well to expect you to do anything so businesslike. But what is the good of our rubbing each other the wrong way like this? Think of me a little, even if the prospect offers no temptation to you. Won’t you allow that to find all I have worked for suddenly within my reach is a thing to tempt a man? I don’t ask you to force your son’s inclination—only to let him know which way your wishes turn. Is that so very much to do for me? I do not often ask a favour from you.”