Bessie coughed significantly and glanced at me. I went on to describe what had passed; and Althea was as firm as ever in her resolve not to do anything which would prejudice Chalice’s prospects. I held my tongue about the last argument I had used with Chalice.
"I’ve seen others beside Chalice," I said presently. "Hugo von Felsen. I have the idea that he is in some way mixed up in this. Can you tell me of any reason why he would be likely to take a hand?"
Althea paused a second and then looked up with a smile. "He wishes me to marry him. He has asked me more than once; and the only benefit I ever had from the supposed attentions of the Prince was a relief from his. Why does that make you look so serious?" she asked with another smile, seeing my grave look.
"It’s a big effort for Paul," bantered Bessie.
I gestured impatiently. "Tell me, do you think it possible he can have guessed your secret--about your father, I mean?"
"Because things are forcing me to the conclusion that in some way or other he is at the bottom of all the trouble. I don’t understand it yet; but I will before long, if I have to drag it out of him by force."
But I would not alarm them by saying anything of von Felsen’s suspicions that Althea was with us.
I knew it well enough now, however, and recognized to the full the danger which it boded.
Althea’s statement--that von Felsen had pressed her to marry him--made it plain to me that he was pulling the strings in everything; although why he should endeavour to secure her arrest in order to further his purpose, baffled me.
If his motive were jealousy, however, it was possible that he would call a halt when he learnt the truth about the Prince. I urged Althea to let me tell him, but she would not. Her quixotic regard for Chalice stood in the way. Nor would she adopt the alternative advice I tendered--that "Aunt Charlotte" should leave Berlin as secretly and mysteriously as she had arrived.
Nothing was left for me, therefore, but to cast about for some other means of dealing with von Felsen. In the meantime I knew he would lose no time in confirming his suspicions as to Althea’s whereabouts.
This was soon made plain. I was speaking to Bessie when von Bernhoff’s card was brought to us; and when he was shown up, von Felsen was with him. Von Bernhoff introduced him to Bessie, and he made himself insinuatingly polite to her.