niscience.

"The details had not been clear until my return to Vienna. Think for a
moment. Herr Renwick visits Belgrade and Sarajevo while a plan is
arranged to take the life of the Archduke Franz. It is well within the
bounds of possibility----"

"Your skill in invention does you credit," she put in quickly, "but Herr
Renwick has no interest in the death of the Archduke. On the contrary,
he has done what he could to save him."

"You will admit that it was Renwick who gave you the information of this
plot."

"Yes--but----"

"One moment. You'll also admit that he gave no authority for his
information."

"But he did what he could to help me warn the Archduke."

"H--m! You did not know perhaps that it is to Serbia's interest and to
Renwick's to warn the Archduke. Austria needs a pretext to make war on
Serbia. Every diplomat in Europe is aware of that. If the Archduke is
attacked in Sarajevo, war will be declared on Serbia within a week."

He paused a moment watching Marishka's face, intent upon its changing
expressions.

"Herr Renwick is no enemy of Austria," she asserted firmly.

"If he is no enemy of Austria, how could he act for the Serbian
government, which follows instructions from St. Petersburg? Herr Renwick
knew of the plot against the life of the Archduke, for he told you of
it. Where did he learn of it? In Sarajevo or Belgrade, where it was
hatched. Who informed him? His friends of the Serbian Secret Service who
live among the anarchists at Sarajevo and Belgrade."

"I do not believe you."

"You must. Serbia has done what she can to prevent this crime. His
Excellency tells me that today the Serbian Minister in Vienna pleaded
with the Austrian Ministry to use its efforts to have the visit of the
Archduke Franz postponed. He was ignored."

He paused and flecked his cigarette out of the window, while Marishka
gazed straight before her, trying to think clearly of Hugh Renwick. A
Serbian spy! It was impossible. And yet every word that this man spoke
hurt her cruelly. Renwick had been in Sarajevo and Belgrade, for he had
told her so. He alone of all persons outside the Secret Government of
Austria had been in a position to know the details of the plot and to
prepare her for them. He had sought to use her in warning the Duchess,
not as an agent of humanity and Christian charity, but as the emissary
of the cowardly and vicious government across the border, Austria's
enemy, Serbia the regicide and the dege