"I know," went on Jost emphatically, "that the ring he wore was yours!
I noticed it particularly while I was talking to him. It would take a
long time and exceptional skill to make any imitation of that sapphire.
There is no doubt that it was your signet!"
The Premier halted suddenly in his nervous walk.
"You told him the whole scheme, you say?"
"I did."
"And his reply?"
"Was, that the King had discovered it, and proposed insisting on an
enquiry."
"And then?"
"Well! Then he warned me to look out for myself,--as anyone connected
with Carl Perousse's financial deal would inevitably be ruined during
the next few weeks."
"Who is going to work the ruin?" asked the Marquis with a sneer; "Do
you not know that if the King dared to give an opinion on a national
crisis, he would be dethroned?"
"There are the People--" began Jost.
"The People! Human emmets--born for crushing under the heel of power! A
couple of 'leaders' in your paper, Jost, can guide the fool-mob any
way!"
"That depends!" said Jost hesitatingly; "If what the fellow said last
night be true--"
"It is not true!" said the Premier authoritatively. "We are going on in
precisely the same course as originally arranged. Neither King nor
People can interfere! Go home, and write an article about love of
country, Jost! You look in the humour for it!"
The Jew's expression was anything but amiable.
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