“What we discuss here will not leave these walls. This interview is necessary to determine whether certain allegations regarding you have substance.”
Julius’s eyebrows rose. “Allegations?”
“Of a very serious sort.”
“I see.” He paused and pulled out a handkerchief to polish his quizzing glass. “And if they do have substance?”
“Then I will have no choice but to have you arrested as a spy.”
Julius’s hand paused for a fraction of a second before he resumed his activity. “Ah.”
“Should they prove unfounded, your name will be officially cleared.”
Julius gave a curt nod. “Understood. What is it you need to ask me?”
“There is a certain list that is of utmost importance to us.”
“By us, I take it you mean to say the Austrian Imperial Army.”
Georg gave a curt nod. “It contains names of double agents hand-picked by Napoleon himself. The list was written by him.”
“Surprisingly careless of the Emperor of the French. I wonder what he intended by it.”
“So you have never heard of that list.”
“I have not.”
“Very well. Then you will also not know about the rumours that the list had surfaced. Before it could be revealed, I sent out my own agent to recover it.”
Julius forgot to polish his quizzing glass. “And?”
Georg observed him closely. “Word got out that there are names on it that had better not be on it.”
“Intriguing. Do you suppose my name was on it? Ah. Isee from your expression, or its lack thereof, that it must be. This of course explains your polite invitation to these charming premises.” He waved a hand.
“Your name is indeed on it.” Georg crossed his arms.
A thoughtful frown appeared on Julius’s face. “How fascinating. And now you have called me here to ask why the deuce that is. The fact of the matter, my friend, is that I have not the faintest idea.” There was a beat of a pause. “You can either believe me or pull out the thumbscrews. Though even then my answer will not differ. You know how careful I am in whom I trust. I trust only Castlereagh and Wellington, and I refuse to discuss matters of diplomacy with anyone else. Not even with you.”
Georg could not deny the rush of relief that swept through him. “I do know that. But I need to know what the deuce you did, or who it is you might have antagonised, for you to land on that list. You appear to have made a powerful enemy. If we could discover who that is, it might give us an important clue.”
“I suppose I have many enemies,” Julius said slowly. Then his hand stilled. “Wait. There was indeed an incident.”
Georg leaned forward.
“Shortly after my arrival here in Vienna. I received a call from Orlovsky. He had the temerity to attempt to recruit me as a spy. I took him by the collar and had him thrown out of my home.” His lips twitched. “I gather he did not take the humiliation well.”
Georg drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “Orlovsky. It is no secret that he works for the Russians. That might well be the explanation. An act of petty revenge for having humiliated him.”
“Where is that list now?”
“Gone. Your sister destroyed it.”
Julius shot up. “What the devil has Evie to do with it?”
“Everything,” Georg groaned. “I take it she did not tell you.”
“No, she did not,” Julius bit out. “Pray, fill me in.”
