"Why the devil don't you go to Vienna and set yourself up like a
gentleman?" demanded the premier.
"Like a gentleman?" repeated Armitage. "It is too late. I should die in
Vienna in a week. Moreover, I _am_ dead, and it is well, when one has
attained that beatific advantage, to stay dead."
"Francis is a troublesome blackguard," declared the old man. "I wish to
God _he_ would form the dying habit, so that I might have a few years in
peace; but he is forever turning up in some mischief. And what can you do
about it? Can we kick him out of the army without a scandal? Don't you
suppose he could go to Budapest tomorrow and make things interesting for
us if he pleased? He's as full of treason as he can stick, I tell you."
Armitage nodded and smiled.
"I dare say," he said in English; and when the old statesman glared at
him he said in German: "No doubt you are speaking the truth."
"Of course I speak the truth; but this is a matter for action, and not
for discussion. That packet was stolen by intention, and not by chance,
John Armitage!"
There was a slight immaterial sound in the hall, and the old prime
minister slipped from German to French without changing countenance as he
continued:
"We have enough troubles in Austria without encouraging treason.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25