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Updated: May 4, 2025
"I can tell you, for I recognise the handwriting. The Marchioness Caldariva wrote you that letter." "The Marchioness Caldariva? Is she here?" "To be sure. The prince never travels without her." "But what motive had she thus to injure herself and, perhaps, prevent her marriage with the prince?" "Motive enough for a woman," replied Vajdar, "jealousy." "Jealousy!" repeated Blanka, in astonishment.
Indeed, we shall ourselves probably be the gainers by this arrangement, as the keeping of our books has become too heavy a burden for my wife, and she will be glad to be relieved. But enough of this at present; to-morrow we will discuss the matter more at length. Meanwhile Mr. Vajdar is welcome to our house." Benjamin Vajdar's emotions can better be imagined than described.
Benjamin Vajdar started violently as he took up the faded sheet and saw that the man whom he had so feared and hated had, by his own voluntary act, disarmed himself and put it out of his power to punish the fraud practised upon him by his false friend.
You know, he and his comrades are Unitarians and entertain scruples against shedding blood, except in defence of home and country. Will Manasseh Adorjan fight when he is ordered to, or throw down his arms?" "In either case, he will die," declared Benjamin Vajdar. "I should prefer to have him only wounded," said the marchioness.
In his absence Vajdar had risen and seated himself at the desk. Searching the drawer for writing-materials, he had come upon a sheet of paper yellow with age, and written upon in ink now much faded. The document proved to be a promissory note, but the signature was so heavily scored through and through as to be hardly legible.
One might have thought she was applauding the prima-donna; but no, she was applauding herself. Benjamin Vajdar returned home, left the police officer quartered in his antechamber, and, with his servant's aid, began packing his trunks. After that task was accomplished he waited impatiently for the close of the opera and Rozina's return.
"Count who?" asked the princess, whereupon she was presented with a card bearing the name of Benjamin Vajdar. But she read it without losing a particle of her serenity, and then ordered an elaborate lunch. While her dishes were preparing, she sent for a hair-dresser and for a maid to assist at her toilet.
Vajdar had no sooner glanced at the letter than he perceived that the enemy, by a feigned retreat, had been decoying him over a mine which threatened presently to explode. Yet his assurance did not desert him. "A stupid bit of play-acting!" he exclaimed, throwing the letter down on the table. "But whose interest could it have been to indulge in play-acting at my expense?" asked Blanka.
Prince Cagliari has of late lost favour at the Vatican, and all the conditions are in our favour; but there is one man whom I fear, that cool and crafty Vajdar. I fell in with him in Venice, and asked him whither he was going. 'To Milan, said he, but I knew he lied. He, too, is bound for Rome, and he will be there ahead of us, or at least overtake us.
When his watch told him that he must have waited long enough, he passed noiselessly through the secret passage and opened the mysterious door in the tall clock at its farther end. The marchioness was not there. One hour, two hours, he waited in her boudoir, and still she failed to appear. "Very well; so be it," said Vajdar to himself.
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