"
"Rischenheim believes what he hopes," said I.
"And where's he gone?" cried Anton, exultantly. "Why has he
suddenly left Strelsau? I tell you he's gone to meet Rupert, and
I'll bet you what you like he carries some proposal. Ah, you
don't know everything, Fritz, my boy?"
It was indeed true that I did not know everything. I made haste
to admit as much. "I didn't even know that the count was gone,
much less why he's gone," said I.
"You see?" exclaimed Anton. And he added, patronizingly, "You
should keep your ears open, my boy; then you might be worth what
the king pays you."
"No less, I trust," said I, "for he pays me nothing." Indeed, at
this time I held no office save the honorary position of
chamberlain to Her Majesty. Any advice the king needed from me
was asked and given unofficially.
Anton went off, persuaded that he had scored a point against me.
I could not see where. It was possible that the Count of
Luzau-Rischenheim had gone to meet his cousin, equally possible
that no such business claimed his care. At any rate, the matter
was not for me. I had a more pressing affair in hand. Dismissing
the whole thing from my mind, I bade the butler tell Bauer to go
forward with my luggage and to let my carriage be at the door in
good time.
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