"Or," the major persisted, raising a hand to restrain the Count,
"or there is something further that has not been yet discovered - a
mystery the enucleation of which will shed light upon all the rest.
Since you assure me, Monsieur le Comte, that milord Wellington's
policy is beyond doubt, as reported to Monsieur, le Marechal, it
but remains to address ourselves to the discovery of the mystery
underlying it. What conclusions have you reached? You, Monsieur de
Samoval, have had exceptional opportunities of observation, I
understand."
"I am afraid my opportunities have been none so exceptional as you
suppose," replied Samoval, with a dubious shake of his sleek, dark
head. "At one tine I founded great hopes in Lady O'Moy. But Lady
O'Moy is a fool, and does not enjoy her husband's confidence in
official matters. What she knows I know. Unfortunately it does not
amount to very much. One conclusion, however, I have reached:
Wellington is preparing in Portugal a snare for Massena's army."
"A snare? Hum!" The major pursed his full lips into a smile of
scorn. "There cannot be a trap with two exits, my friend. Massena
enters Portugal at Almeida and marches to Lisbon and the open sea.
He may be inconvenienced or hampered in his march; but its goal is
certain.
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