"Prince Henry has a party, then?" said Porporina, who was anxious to learn the intrigue in which she was said to be involved.
"Do not pretend ignorance," said the baron. "It is a party at present much persecuted, but far from being desperate. The Grand Lama, or, if you like the title better, the Marquis, does not sit so firmly on his throne that he cannot be shaken out of it. Prussia is a good war-horse, but must not be pushed too far."
"Then you are a conspirator, Baron Von Poelnitz! I never suspected you."
"Who does not conspire now? The tyrant is surrounded by servants who are apparently faithful. They have however, sworn his ruin."
"You are very wrong, baron, to confide this to me."
"If I do so, it is because I am authorized by the prince and princess."
"Of one you know. I do not think the others conspire, unless, perhaps, the Margravine of Bareith does; for she is offended at her position, and angry with the king, since he scolded her about her understanding with the Cardinal de Fleury. That is an old story; but a woman's anger is of long duration, and the Margravine Guillemette[10] is not the common-place person she seems."
"I never had the honor of hearing her say a word."
"But you saw her at the rooms of the Abbess of Quedlimburgh."
"I was never but once at the rooms of the Princess Amelia, and the only member of the family I saw was the king."
"It matters not. Prince Henry had ordered me to say----"
"Really, baron!" said Consuelo, contemptuously, "has the prince instructed you to say anything?"
"You shall see that I do not jest. You must know that his affairs are not ruined, as people assert. None of his friends have betrayed him. Saint Germain is now in France, attempting to unite our conspiracy with that which is about to replace Charles Edward on the throne of England. Trismegistus alone has been arrested, but he will escape, and the prince is sure of his discretion. He conjures you not to suffer yourself to be terrified by the threats of the Marquis. Especially he enjoins you to confide in none who pretend to be his friends and wish to speak to you. On that account just now you were subjected to an ordeal, which you sustained satisfactorily. I will say to our hero, to our brave prince, that you are one of the best champions of his cause."