We went to the instrument room. I found myself weak, but quite uninjured. Elza left us there, and went to prepare food which I needed to strengthen me.
The public events of those hours and days following, I have recounted as Georg saw them and took part in them in Washington. We observed them, here in the tower, with alternate hopes and fears. Our life of imprisonment went on much as before. Occasionally, Tarrano visited us, always making us sit like children before him, while at his ease he reclined on our divan.
But he would never give us much real information; the man always was an enigma.
"Your friend Georg has a wonderful plan," he announced to us ironically early one evening. He smiled his caustic smile. "You have seen the tape?"
"Yes," I said. It was Georg's plan to address with Maida, the publics of Earth, Venus and Mars.
Tarrano nodded. "He and the Princess are going to convince everyone that I am an impostor."
I did not answer that; and abruptly he chuckled. "That would be unfortunate for me--if they could do that. Do you think they'll be able to?"
He laughed openly. "Of course. But they will not. That long note of mine to your government--you read it, naturally. But you didn't read in it my secret instructions to my agents in Washington, did you? Well, they were there in it--my commands--the letters ending its words made another message."
He was amused at our discomfiture. "Simple enough? Yet really an intricate code in itself. It made the phrasing of the main note a little difficult to compose, that was all." He sat up with his accustomed snap of alertness, and his face turned grim. "Georg will never address his audience. Nor the Princess--she will never appear before those sending mirrors. I have seen to that." Again he was chuckling. "No, no, I could not let them do a thing like that. They might turn people against me."
Elza began indignantly: "You--you are----"
His gesture checked her. "Your brother is quite safe, Lady Elza. And the Princess Maida also. Indeed, they are on the point of falling in love with each other. Natural! And perfectly right. It is as I would have it."
His strong brown fingers were rubbing each other with his satisfaction. "Curious, Lady Elza--how fortunate I am in all my plans."