"It's a post to reward long service and soldierly
merit. I have not the former and have had no chance to prove the
latter. I fear it will be bad for discipline and worse for my
popularity."
Courtney laughed. "That might be true of the American Army--it's
nonsense in a Monarchy. You forget you are of the Blood Royal--an
Archduke--of mature years--with some experience in actual war--and, for
all the Army and Court know, in line for the Crown. You are,
therefore, born to command. There can be no jealousies against you.
On the contrary, it will bring you followers. None but Lotzen and his
circle will resent it, and they, already, are your enemies. The
Governorship will make them no more so. Instead, it will keep them
careful; for it will give you immense power to detect and foil their
plots."
"Plots!" I exclaimed. "Do you fancy Lotzen would resort to murder?"
"Not at present--not until everything else has failed."
"You seem very sure," I remarked.
"Precisely that. You don't seem to realize that you have likely both
lost him his desired wife and jeopardized his succession to the Throne.
He might submit to losing the Princess, but the Crown, never. He will
eliminate you, by soft methods if he can, by violent ones, if need be.
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