"We leave bribery to Lipski and his principal, Orloff; or shall I put the word in the plural, your grace, and say principals," said Zabern with a meaning smile.
Bora gave a slight start, which did not escape the other's notice.
"You see, dear duke," drawled Zabern airily, "we know all that is going on behind the scenes. Governor Orloff in his palace at Warsaw pulls the strings, and the puppets dance in the Diet of Slavowitz. Next week I shall manipulate the strings, and you shall see the figures dancing to my tune."
The duke began to grow somewhat uneasy under the knowledge displayed by Zabern. In his previous contests with the wily Pole he had always come off second-best. Was Zabern again to triumph over him?
"You talk boldly, marshal," he said with a supercilious smile, "but I think I shall win my roubles."
"Humph!" muttered Radzivil, gloomily, "it's quite clear that, vexed with the princess for excluding him from the cabinet, he will now throw in his lot with the Opposition."
"Therein appearing in his true colors," replied Zabern. "There he walks, a would-be sovereign, attended by a would-be court. _Carpe diem, Bora, carpe diem!_ Enjoy your brief span of existence! The 15th of September next will see your end."
"The 15th of September?" repeated Dorislas. "That is the day of the princess's coronation."
"True; and if I rightly forecast the future, Dorislas, the duke will not outlive that day."
By a singular turn of circumstances the day on which the fate of the Appropriation Bill was to be decided, and possibly with that bill the fate of Czernova itself, was likewise the day appointed for the annual review of the Czernovese army.
This marshalling of troops took place in a spacious plain a few miles to the north of Slavowitz, and was presided over by the princess herself.
The muster fell considerably short of that of the previous year, due to the fact that many of the troops were engaged in the duty of keeping guard over the numerous monasteries of Czernova.
Still, in spite of absentee regiments, the review was a fine sight, even in the eyes of Paul, accustomed as he was to much more striking displays. His frequent expressions of admiration gave pleasure to Barbara, who had been somewhat dreading his criticism, anticipating that he, as a tried soldier, might disparage the merits of an army, whose mettle had never yet been tested in actual battle.