heard something?"
"No, nothing. Nothing." He wiped his lips with his handkerchief. "I assumed, as did everyone, that there had to have been an ambush. How else could you and the supervisor have been overpowered? Those gangs lie in wait for the reckless, and had you been warned, you might have had a better outcome."
"No doubt," said Saint-Germain, wondering what was behind this offer. "It is an interesting proposition, Graf; one that, as you say, has advantages. I would like a day or two to think it over."
For the first time, von Altenburg became huffy. "I'd think the advantages of such an arrangement would be obvious."
"Oh, they are," said Saint-Germain smoothly. "But, do you know, I have learned over the years that sometimes a tempting offer conceals difficulties that come to light only after the offer has been accepted." He gave a self-deprecating smile. "I do not say that is your intention to lure me into an agreement that would redound to my disadvantage, but before we pledge our mutual support, we may both want to understand where the limits of the agreement lie," he went on, forestalling van Altenburg's protests. "I believe it would be prudent to anticipate possible problems before they arise. Such matters are more easily set aside than undone."
"Understandable, understandable," von Altenburg grumbled. "I do take your point, Herzog. Given your reception in Sankt Piterburkh, a little reserve may be wise." He poured more wine and took a long sip. "How long are you assigned here?"
This abrupt change of subject bemused Saint-Germain, who nonetheless answered the question. "It depends on my usefulness. Augustus of Poland did not set a limit on my mission. Either the King, or my wife, may call a halt to our assignment."
"Not you?" Von Altenburg was surprised by this news.
"No, not I. Keep in mind that my wife is Polish--I am Hungarian, which is why you inquired about the current uprising." He inclined his head.
"That you are," said von Altenburg. "That you are."
The room was warming steadily; Hroger left the stove, bowed to the two men near the windows, and went off to the third room of the house.
"He seems an attentive servant," von Altenburg remarked.
"He is; he has been with me half my life." Saint-Germain had a swift recollection of a day in Imperial Rome when he had come upon a badly beaten man in the shadow of the unfinished Flavian Circus,when Rogerian had been dying from a beating; Saint-Germain had restored him to life and gained a loyal companion. "I trust him implicitly."
"A rare encomium," said von Altenburg, and in three large swallows finished the wine. "Well, Herzog, I don't want to tire you, nor do I want to keep my horses standing on such a windy day, so I'll take my leave." He got to his feet, and offered a bow with a flourish. "Thank you for receiving me. And thank you for hearing me out."
"You are most welcome, Graf." He nodded his head to answer the bow. "I anticipate our next meeting with pleasure."
Hroger appeared again, and went to hold the door for Graf von Altenburg.
"It will be in a day or two, Graf," Saint-Germain assured him.
"Good. Good." He bowed again, and stepped through the door, signaling to his coachman.
"What was he after?" Hroger asked in English once the door was closed.
Saint-Germain shook his head slowly. "I wish I knew."
Text of a letter from Mungo Laurie, Scottish engineer, to his wife in Edinburgh; carried by ship and delivered two months after it was written.
To my most-dear spouse, and light of my life, the affectionate greetings of your husband.
My dear Hepzibah, my mouselet,
Thanks be to God, we arrived safely in this new city of Russia. We made good time, for even with three ports-of-call along the way, we were here in five weeks. The Royal Standard has come through two storms and fields of icebergs without harm, and the Captain, Kenneth Montgomery, is confident of a swift return. This
"No, nothing. Nothing." He wiped his lips with his handkerchief. "I assumed, as did everyone, that there had to have been an ambush. How else could you and the supervisor have been overpowered? Those gangs lie in wait for the reckless, and had you been warned, you might have had a better outcome."
"No doubt," said Saint-Germain, wondering what was behind this offer. "It is an interesting proposition, Graf; one that, as you say, has advantages. I would like a day or two to think it over."
For the first time, von Altenburg became huffy. "I'd think the advantages of such an arrangement would be obvious."
"Oh, they are," said Saint-Germain smoothly. "But, do you know, I have learned over the years that sometimes a tempting offer conceals difficulties that come to light only after the offer has been accepted." He gave a self-deprecating smile. "I do not say that is your intention to lure me into an agreement that would redound to my disadvantage, but before we pledge our mutual support, we may both want to understand where the limits of the agreement lie," he went on, forestalling van Altenburg's protests. "I believe it would be prudent to anticipate possible problems before they arise. Such matters are more easily set aside than undone."
"Understandable, understandable," von Altenburg grumbled. "I do take your point, Herzog. Given your reception in Sankt Piterburkh, a little reserve may be wise." He poured more wine and took a long sip. "How long are you assigned here?"
This abrupt change of subject bemused Saint-Germain, who nonetheless answered the question. "It depends on my usefulness. Augustus of Poland did not set a limit on my mission. Either the King, or my wife, may call a halt to our assignment."
"Not you?" Von Altenburg was surprised by this news.
"No, not I. Keep in mind that my wife is Polish--I am Hungarian, which is why you inquired about the current uprising." He inclined his head.
"That you are," said von Altenburg. "That you are."
The room was warming steadily; Hroger left the stove, bowed to the two men near the windows, and went off to the third room of the house.
"He seems an attentive servant," von Altenburg remarked.
"He is; he has been with me half my life." Saint-Germain had a swift recollection of a day in Imperial Rome when he had come upon a badly beaten man in the shadow of the unfinished Flavian Circus,when Rogerian had been dying from a beating; Saint-Germain had restored him to life and gained a loyal companion. "I trust him implicitly."
"A rare encomium," said von Altenburg, and in three large swallows finished the wine. "Well, Herzog, I don't want to tire you, nor do I want to keep my horses standing on such a windy day, so I'll take my leave." He got to his feet, and offered a bow with a flourish. "Thank you for receiving me. And thank you for hearing me out."
"You are most welcome, Graf." He nodded his head to answer the bow. "I anticipate our next meeting with pleasure."
Hroger appeared again, and went to hold the door for Graf von Altenburg.
"It will be in a day or two, Graf," Saint-Germain assured him.
"Good. Good." He bowed again, and stepped through the door, signaling to his coachman.
"What was he after?" Hroger asked in English once the door was closed.
Saint-Germain shook his head slowly. "I wish I knew."
Text of a letter from Mungo Laurie, Scottish engineer, to his wife in Edinburgh; carried by ship and delivered two months after it was written.
To my most-dear spouse, and light of my life, the affectionate greetings of your husband.
My dear Hepzibah, my mouselet,
Thanks be to God, we arrived safely in this new city of Russia. We made good time, for even with three ports-of-call along the way, we were here in five weeks. The Royal Standard has come through two storms and fields of icebergs without harm, and the Captain, Kenneth Montgomery, is confident of a swift return. This
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