Charlie then produced certain documents, reports of two celebrated mining engineers who had been sent out to Kaopanik by Statham Brothers, and these they discussed for a long time.
Presently Rolfe said:
“By the way, your Excellency, have you heard of late anything from Doctor Petrovitch?”
“Petrovitch!” exclaimed the old statesman, starting quickly. “Petrovitch? No!” he almost snapped.
“He has been living in England quite recently, but of late—well, of late I’ve lost sight of him. I know,” he went on, “that you and he had some little difference of opinion upon the Customs war with Austria.”
“Yes, we did,” remarked the grey-bearded old gentleman, with a smile. “We differed upon one point. Afterwards, however, I found that my ideas were unsound, and I admitted it in the Skuptchina. I heard that Petrovitch was in London. The King invited him to come to Belgrade about six months ago, as he wished to consult him in private, but he declined the invitation.”
“Why?”
“I think he feared on account of a political conspiracy which is known to have been formed against him. As you know, the Opposition are his bitter opponents.”
“And they are opponents of his Majesty also,” Rolfe remarked.
“Exactly—a fact which for the peace of Servia is most unfortunate.”