"Now what will you be hinting?" he asked her peevishly.

"I'll be more plain. I will tell you what I know. It is this.
Koenigsmark has an assignation with the Princess Sophia this
very night at ten o'clock--and where do you suppose? In her
Highness's own apartments."

The Elector came to his feet with an oath. "That is not true!" he
cried. "It cannot be!"

"Then I'll say no more," quoth Jezebel, and snapped her thin
lips.

"Ah, but you shall. How do you know this?"

"That I cannot tell you without betraying a confidence. Let it
suffice you that I do know it. Consider now whether in banishing
this profligate you have sufficiently avenged the honour of your
son."

"My God, if I thought this were true...." He choked with rage,
stood shaking a moment, then strode to the door, calling.

"The truth is easily ascertained," said Madame. "Conceal yourself
in the Rittersaal, and await his coming forth. But you had best
go attended, for it is a very reckless rogue, and he has been
known aforetime to practice murder."

Whilst the Elector, acting upon this advice, was getting his men
together, Koenigsmark was wasting precious moments in Sophia's