'Yes; but he will make overtures again, and this time he will not be rebuffed. Oh, Eugen! can't you see that this plot against you is being engineered by some persons who know all about your affairs, and whose desire is to prevent your marriage with Princess Anna? Only one man in Europe can have any motive for wishing to prevent your marriage with Princess Anna, and that is the man who means to marry her himself.' Eugen went very pale.
'Then, Aribert, do you mean to oonvey to me that my detention in Ostend was contrived by the agents of the King of Bosnia?'
'I do.'
'With a view to stopping my negotiations with Sampson Levi, and so putting an end to the possibility of my marriage with Anna?'
Aribert nodded.
'You are a good friend to me, Aribert. You mean well. But you are mistaken.
You have been worrying about nothing.'
'Have you forgotten about Reginald Dimmock?'
'I remember you said that he had died.'
'I said nothing of the sort. I said that he had been assassinated. That was part of it, my poor Eugen.'
'Pooh!' said Eugen. 'I don't believe he was assassinated. And as for Sampson Levi, I will bet you a thousand marks that he and I come to terms this morning, and that the million is in my hands before Ileave London.' Aribert shook his head.
'You seem to be pretty sure of Mr Levi's character. Have you had much to do with him before?'
'Well,' Eugen hesitated a second, 'a little. What young man in my position hasn't had something to do with Mr Sampson Levi at one time or another?'
'I haven't,' said Aribert.
'You! You are a fossil.' He rang a silver bell. 'Hans! I will receive Mr Sampson Levi.'
Whereupon Aribert discreetly departed, and Prince Eugen sat down in the great velvet chair, and began to look at the papers which Hans had previously placed upon the table.
'Good morning, your Royal Highness,' said Sampson Levi, bowing as he entered. 'I trust your Royal Highness is well.'
'Moderately, thanks,' returned the Prince.
In spite of the fact that he had had as much to do with people of Royal blood as any plain man in Europe, Sampson Levi had never yet learned how to be at ease with these exalted individuals during the first few minutes of an interview. Afterwards, he resumed command of himself and his faculties, but at the beginning he was invariably flustered, scarlet of face, and inclined to perspiration.
'We will proceed to business at once,' said Prince Eugen. 'Will you take a seat, Mr Levi?'
'I thank your Royal Highness.'
'Now as to that loan which we had already practically arranged - a million, I think it was,' said the Prince airily.
'A million,' Levi acquiesced, toying with his enormous watch chain.
'Everything is now in order. Here are the papers and I should like to finish the matter up at once.'
'Exactly, your Highness, but - '
