Part 35 (1/2)
”No!” she exclaimed suddenly, ”you lie; it cannot be the King's will; you blacken the King, wis.h.i.+ng to defend him. I have not yet doubted his n.o.ble heart, although I believe he is occasionally thoughtless. The King cannot ask for it.”
The messenger silently took from his pocket the King's letter and handed it to the Countess.
She glanced at it contemptuously.
”If that which he signed for me has no value now,” she said, ”what weight can I give this letter? Tomorrow the King may ask you to return that to him.”
Watzdorf, in confusion, replaced the letter in his pocket and said,--
”Countess, I pity you--you may believe me or not, but I am sincere. For G.o.d's sake, think of what you expose yourself to! remember the lot of many people. It is dangerous to oppose the King.”
”I know him better than you,” she answered.
”I beseech you!”
”Spare yourself the time and trouble,” said Cosel quietly. ”It is in vain; you can do less with me by threatening than by persuasion.”
She threw a contemptuous glance at him and left the room.
CHAPTER XVII.
Hardly had the carriage in which Count Watzdorf had come disappeared than Cosel called Zaklika to her. Being afraid of spies in her own house, Cosel told him to follow her into the courtyard, and there she tried to speak to him as if she were giving him some instructions concerning the house.
Zaklika had guessed her thoughts.
”We are watched here, are we not?” said Cosel.
”Yes,” answered the faithful servant.
”Can we deceive them?”
”The princ.i.p.al spy is Gottlieb, but he is stupid.”
”Gottlieb!” exclaimed the Countess.
”Yes; the man that talks so much of his fidelity to you.”
”In the city everybody knows you, I suppose?”
”Many of them have forgotten me,” answered Zaklika.
”Could you bring some news?”
”If I must, I will.”
”It is dangerous for me to remain here,” continued Cosel. ”I must escape. I have confidence in you alone; you must advise me how it can be done.”
Zaklika was silent and thoughtful.