“It is possible,” she allowed unwillingly. “But who could foresee such a thing? What more could I have done?”
“Witnesses?” suggested Prince Soudaroff.
“My lady saw her come, but knew nothing of her business. Indeed, I could not have admitted her to the secret, for she is a strong partisan of the Christodoridi.”
Their eyes met, and Prince Soudaroff permitted himself a smile. “The lady, I presume?” he said. “No, madame, I agree that it would not have been prudent to complicate matters further in that direction.”
“Then what is to be done? Shall I get Princess Theophanis here, on the plea that you have doubts as to the authenticity of the document, and make her swear to her husband’s signature?”
He shook his head slowly. “I fear, madame, that so decisive an act might lead to the Princess’s confessing everything to her husband, which would be most disastrous at this juncture. The memory had better slumber for the present. No, I think it would be advisable to detach some of the Theophanis supporters.”
“And allow Prince Christodoridi to be elected?”
“Possibly; I do not know. To ensure that the majority, on whichever side it is, should at any rate be very small.”
“You would not think of exposing Prince Christodoridi at once, and removing one obstacle altogether.”
“And allowing Prince Theophanis an absolutely unanimous return? No, madame. I must recommend you once more to cultivate patience. But I am pleased to observe that our championship of the Englishman has already created an uneasy feeling among the party which is always intensely suspicious of our designs. If that feeling of uneasiness were to deepen——?”