第8章

"With your Majesty's permission," he said, tearing open the envelope.As he read the contents, his shoulders sank to their habitual stoop and benignity once more shone in the place of alertness."Decidedly, fate is not with your Excellency to-day.

M.Jacobi writes me that four millions have already been disposed of to M.Everard & Co., English bankers in the Konigstrasse, who are representing a French firm in this particular instance.I am very sorry.""It is of no moment now," replied the Englishman indifferently.

The adverb which concluded this declaration caught the keen ear of the minister, who grew tall again.What would he not have given to read the subtle brain of his opponent, for opponent he knew him to be! His intense scrutiny was blocked by a pair of most innocent eyes.

"Well," said the king impatiently, "let us be gone, my friend.

The talk of money always leaves a copperish taste on my tongue."Arm in arm they passed from the chamber.When the door closed behind them, the minister of finance drew his handkerchief across his brow.

"Everard & Co.," mused the Englishman aloud."Was it not indeed a stroke for your cousin to select them as his agents? You will in truth be accused of selling out to the English.But there is a coincidence in all this.""I am lost!" said the king.

"On the contrary, you are saved.Everard & Co.are my bankers and attorneys; in fact, I own an interest in the firm.""What is this you tell me?" cried the king.

"Sire, we English have a peculiar trait; it is asking for something after we have taken it.The human countenance is a fine picture book.I should like to read that belonging to your cousin Josef, providing I could read unobserved.""My friend!" said the king.

"Say nothing.Here is the bulldog; take him to her Royal Highness with my compliments.There is no truer friend than an animal of his breed.He is steadfast in his love, for he makes but few friends; he is a good companion, for he is undemonstrative; he can read and draw inferences, and your enemies will be his.I shall bid you good afternoon.God be with your Majesty.""Ah, to lose you now!" said, the king, a heaviness in his heart such as presentiment brings.

The diplomat turned and went down the grand corridor.The bulldog tugged at his chain.Animals are gifted with prescience.

He knew that his master had passed forever out of his life.

Presently he heard the voice of the princess calling; and the glamour of royalty encompassed him,--something a human finds hard to resist, and he was only a dog.

Meanwhile another messenger had entered the chamber of finance and had gone.On the minister's desk lay a crumpled sheet of paper on which was written:

"Treason and treachery! It has at this moment been ascertained that, while pretending to be our agents in securing the consols, M.Everard & Co.now refuse to deliver them into the custody of Baron von Rumpf, as agreed, and further, that M.Everard & Co.

are bankers and attorneys to his Excellency the British minister.

He must not leave this city with those consols."With his eyes riveted on these words, the minister of finance, huddled in his chair, had fallen into a profound study.

There were terrible times in the house of Josef that night.