The man obeyed with alacrity, seeing his chance of settling a bet which he had made on the subject of the election with a compatriot employed at the British Consulate and detailed to guard Prince Theophanis. His own sharpest dagger, and the compatriot’s largest and most highly ornamented revolver, had been the stakes, and both would now adorn his girdle. He swaggered out with immense importance, almost knocking down a quiet gentleman who had just alighted at the door as he did so. Prince Soudaroff looked after him uncertainly. If the man had been going in the direction of the Theophanis headquarters he would have ventured to stop him, but the great square in front of the site marked out for the High Commissioner’s palace was the common rallying-ground this afternoon, and he let him go on. The flush of gratified resentment had hardly died from the Princess’s cheek when she received her visitor.
“And the next step?” she said eagerly.
“Patience, madame, patience! You must remember that we do not wish to perpetuate the present unsettled state of affairs. No, let the Emathians perceive the advantages of a settled government, perhaps—who knows?—begin to find them press a little hardly; then will come the opportunity of discrediting the temporary ruler, and the necessity of supplying his place immediately. But we must be prepared to prevent Prince Theophanis from stepping into the vacant place. I presume the document which you hold contains no limitations as to time?”
“None whatever,” said the Princess, concealing beneath a mask of absolute certainty the sudden alarm she felt.
“Since the task was in your hands, madame, I knew it would be well carried out. Still, I think, if I may say so, that in view of your constant journeys, the time has come when the document would be safer in my possession than in yours.”
“I’m afraid I can’t agree to that,” said the Princess, with a smile of which her practised opponent detected the hollowness. “You see I have promised Princess Theophanis not to let it out of my hands unless it becomes necessary——”
“To produce it? Quite so. The promise is given. The mind of the Princess Theophanis is at rest. The promise has done its work; let it pass,” he waved his hand. “You will at any rate permit me to inspect the document, madame? If I should retain it, disregarding your protests, no blame can attach to you.”
“Fie, casuist!” said the Princess playfully.
“You flatter me, madame.”
“But I could not think of such a thing!”