Boris's words, "I believe you would sell us!" and her answer, "The price would have to be enormous," given lightly, it was true, yet might not there be a substratum of truth in it? 
Boris was just joking when he said he believed she would sell them, but she was really thinking of actually doing it.
She did not have any inkling of selling them at all.
The war was not won by skill or prowess, but by luck--had the enemy commander not foolishly attacked and lost his main host, the capital may have fell by now.
Four cats are playing in the snow.
The dog is sitting at the beginning of the path.
He is in the pond.
Two young girls standing.
It digs down too deep, so I have to collect a lot of grass.