“Unfortunately for me, madame, they did.”
“Then you have some thought, doubtless, of visiting the Foreign Ministers of the interested Powers, and explaining the reasons for the failure of your mission? I think it might be well, in your own interest.”
“I shall be honoured, madame, if I can combine any interest of yours with my own.”
The Princess frowned. “If these things are to be done, they should not be said, monsieur.” He bowed, crestfallen. “It is your unbiassed opinion, is it not, that the present state of things in Emathia cannot continue? Nothing is to be hoped for from the system of illusory safeguards imposed by the Powers on the Roumi Government?” He bowed again, but evidently thought silence wiser than speech. “A new plan must be tried, involving the virtual expatriation of the Roumis. They may keep garrisons in Therma and two or three other cities, in token of suzerainty, but the province must be administered by a Commissioner appointed by the Powers, and responsible to them.”
“You have voiced my own opinion, madame. But these claimants—which do you support?” He trembled at his own audacity in asking the question, but an answer was vital for the direction of his future course. The Princess showed no anger as she replied with much frankness—
“Neither. I hope to show you that they are both impossible. What do you think of a plan to seize the Hagiamavra peninsula, and defy the Roumis there at the head of the Emathian insurgents?”
“There is no doubt that such a scheme would gravely prejudice its planner in the eyes of Europe, madame.”
“This is more than a scheme. In a few days it will be a fact.”
“And you would have the Powers occupy the peninsula, madame, and thus frustrate the plot?”
“By no means!” There was something almost amounting to despair at his obtuseness in the Princess’s voice. “It must not be frustrated. They must carry it out, and make themselves impossible. Listen. It is Romanos Christodoridi who has conceived the plan, but I can ensure that the other party adopt it. They are stronger than he, and will probably succeed in establishing themselves at Hagiamavra. If blows are exchanged, it will only be a proof of the unfitness of both sides to rule; it may even eliminate him altogether. But if not, he can be removed from the path in another way—by a schismatic marriage.”