I took off my glove and struck him in the face.
“After the fourth waltz,” I said. “There is a moon. In the walled garden. And, gentlemen, whatever you may know, keep silence. Berlin will speak if you do.”
I sought Hartzel. He was not difficult to find. He was dogging my steps like a spy. I told him of my meeting in the garden, and asked him to be my second.
“He is a good swordsman,” he said. I think he was sorry.
“Then I sincerely hope the real Paul won’t miss his train. To have the throne vacant again would be annoying.”
“And you?” he asked.
“My dear General,” I said, with a smile, “when a man is giving up a pearl of infinite value he does not care much for the tarnished gold of his own life.”
The fourth waltz I danced with the Princess Marie.
“I wish to speak to you soberly, seriously, sedately, Marie. May I? Come to the little conservatory and sit out the thirteenth.”
“It is an unlucky number.”