Waltz. "Every one has a right to give or to receive a present."

"Gentlemen," said Baron Weingarten, smilingly, "No one has spoken of
a present, but of a payment, a bribery, and you can readily
understand that this is insulting to a man of honor."

"Ah, he leaves open a door of escape," thought Zetto. "He is won, he
can be bought.--You are right, baron," he said aloud, "and we are
wrong to offer you now that which hereafter will be a debt of
gratitude. We will speak no more of this, but of the danger that
threatens the king. You alone can save him by warning him of his
danger."

"You really believe, then, that Trenck has the intention of
murdering the king?" said Weingarten.

"We will believe it," said Zetto, with an ambiguous smile.

"We must believe it!" cried Baron Waltz, emphatically. "We must
either believe in his murderous intentions, or be ourselves regarded
as traitors and robbers. You will think it natural that we prefer
the first alternative, and as he resolved to ruin us, we will
anticipate him, and set the trap into which he must fall."

"Why could you not lay your snares in Austria, gentlemen? Why could
you not accuse him of intending to murder the empress?"

Zetto shrugged his shoulders. "That would not be credible, because
Trenck has no motive for murdering Maria Theresa, while he might
very well thirst to revenge himself upon Frederick. You know that