when they were in trouble with Prince Gustav in the bad old days. So now heâs trying the feel of solitary confinement for himself. I can tell you, he doesnât much like it. He is going to be remarkably pleased to see you!â
âItâs all extraordinary,â said Martha. âBut what in the world are we going to do?â
âI am sure you and he will think of something,â said the old lady comfortably. âAnd now, if you will excuse me, my dear, I think I will get some sleep. I didnât get much last night, I can tell you, what with feeding the poor man and finding him clothes. He was in a bad state when he arrived. Itâs snowed early in the mountains this year and I think heâd had a hard time of it, though of course he wonât admit it. I imagine he will have slept all day today, so I hope you will find him a little better. But heâs going to need some cherishing for a while, I think.â
âBless you, Frau Schmidt!â Martha reached out a hand to take the old ladyâs.
âFranz!â
âMy dear!â They were in each otherâs arms, laughing a little, crying a little. âIâve missed you so.â Which of them said it?
âYou look worn out.â Martha drew away a little to look at him. âThin as a rail! But, thank God, youâre here. Will he be very angry?â
âNapoleon? Bound to be, but it will be hard for him to show it, since I was never officially styled a prisoner. We have to think of some way of saving his face for him.â
âYes, Iâd been thinking about that. And itâs easy, really. You got to Strasbourg in his train â you canât have been at his side all the time?â
âOh, no, he had a million things to do, as you can imagine, organising that amazing march across Europe. I was just â watched over.â
âNot closely enough, thank God.â They were sitting side by side now, on the cot bed of the bleak little room where he had been hiding, and it was good beyond anything to feel his arm around her. âYou heard, somehow, a rumour that all was not well here in Lissenberg. Strasbourgâs a great place for rumour, they say.â
âYes, indeed. So, what I did hear was wrong?â
âNo problem about that, Iâm afraid. Has Frau Schmidt not told you?â
âAbout my father? Yes, a little. Heâs been stirring things up?â
âI think so. And so does Ishmael Brodski. He came to see me the other day. To warn me.â She told him quickly what Ishmael had said. âWe are neither of us so popular as we were, you and I, but I think what brought you home must have been the rumours about me, donât you? Youâre laughing?â It was good to hear it.
âYouâre wonderful, Martha. And youâre absolutely right, as usual. Youâre suggesting that I got anxious about how you were managing here and came hurrying home to your side? Now that is something Napoleon would understand. He does rather think a womanâs place is in the bedroom. But why did I come in secret?â He returned to the matter in hand.
âBecause it was the quickest way? No pomp, no ceremony, no delays?â
âYes.â Doubtfully. âThe thing is, I donât much want the secret of the path blown. Now Iâve watched Napoleon at work, I think heâs quite capable of invading us by it. Using it to our disadvantage one way or other. It really is a secret, you see.â
âAnd might come in useful again some time. Max is here, did Frau Schmidt tell you? He brought an ultimatum from the Austrians.â
âShe didnât tell me that.â
âShe didnât know. They want all our mineral exports. I take it thatâs what Napoleon wants too. Thatâs what this is all about.â
âIâm afraid so.â
âI have it, I think!â She had been exploring various possibilities as they talked.
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