To talk over the Favras scheme in secret a whist party was made up of the two rulers, Provence and Charny for the fourth hand. Respect isolated the table.
"Brother," said the Queen, "Lord Charny, who comes from Turin, says that our kinsfolk there are begging us to join them."
"I entreat you to listen," whispered Lady Elizabeth, who sat on a stool.
"That Lord Charny has also seen the Marquis Favras since he came home, a gentleman whose lealty we know, and he says that the King has but to say a word," went on the Queen, "or make a sign, and this very night, you will be at Peronne."
The King kept still. His brother twisted a jack of hearts all to rags.
"Repeat this as the marquis put it," said he to Isidore.
"Your Majesty, thanks to measures taken by Marquis Favras, he declares that the King has but the cue to give to be in safety in Peronne this blessed night."
Turning sharply on his brother, the King said as he fixed his eyes on him:
"I" said the other, turning pale and trembling. "I have not been notified, and I have made no preparations."
"You know nothing about it, and yet you found the money for Favras?" exclaimed the monarch. "You not notified, and the moves in the game have been reported to you hour by hour?"
"The plot; for it is one of those plots for which, if discovered, Favras will be tried and doomed to death--unless by money and other means we save him as we did Bezenval."
"No; for I might not be able to do as much for him. Besides, Bezenval was my liege as Favras is yours. Let each save his own man, and both of us shall have done our duty."
He rose, but the Queen retained him by the skirt of the coat.
"Sire, whether you accept or refuse, you owe the marquis an answer. What is Viscount Charny to answer for the King?"
"That the King does not allow himself to be spirited away like a slave for the Louisiana plantations." He disengaged his coat.
"This means," said Provence, "that the King will not allow of the abduction but if it be executed in spite of his permission, it will be welcome. In politics success condones the crime and blunderers deserve double punishment."
"Viscount," said the Queen, "tell the marquis what you heard and let him act as he thinks it points. Go."