“No, I was to have seen him now if he was well enough, but the doctors think it wiser not. He is to keep his strength in reserve ready for seeing Maurice.”
“Maurice!” cried Zoe and Armitage together.
“Yes, Panagiotis has sent for him. He has some deep-laid plot on hand, but I don’t see it at present.”
“But what is the idea?”
“So far as I can see, it is to magnify the Prince’s illness sufficiently to make it natural for him to appoint Maurice regent. That would be an important step gained in uniting our rival interests against the Powers, but I don’t see that it justifies deception.”
“But you can’t be certain that there is deception,” said Armitage.
“Not certain, but why should the Prince not see me for a minute, if he is well enough to send messages and sign documents? I should not disturb him, and it would be much more satisfactory. But one can’t force one’s way into a sick man’s room against the will of his doctors.”
“Who is his doctor?” asked Zoe.
“Terminoff, who was with us in Hagiamavra. That’s one thing that makes me think there is something up. Anyhow Panagiotis intends to see Maurice established as regent as soon as he arrives, and apparently attaches immense importance to his arriving as soon as possible.”
“Then he should have written to Eirene instead of Maurice, or at any rate to both of them,” said Zoe.