The councilor's strange actions, the oath, the package, and above all the scene in the king's house convinced him of that.

And he was sure that Obadiah's night visitor--the girl with the lilacs--was playing a vital part in it.
He plucked at the withered flowers which the old man had thrown him.

He could detect their sweet scent above the pungent fumes of tobacco and as Obadiah's triumphant chuckle recurred to him, the gloating joy in his eyes, the passionate tremble of his voice, a grim smile passed over his face.

The mystery was easy of solution--if he was willing to reason along certain lines.

But he was not willing.