"That is what we must find out. Your uncle was silent. He said nothing, or next to nothing."
"He is the best of the three, by far," said Nina.
"Your aunt is a clever woman in spite her blunder about you; and had I dealt with her only I should have thought that she might have expressed herself as she did, and still have had the paper in her own keeping. I could not read her mind as I could read his. Women will lie better than men."
"But men can lie too," said Nina.
"Your cousin Ziska is a fool."
"He is a fox," said Nina.
"He is a fool in comparison with his mother. And I had him in my own house, under my thumb, as it were. Of course he lied. Of course he tried to deceive me. But, Nina, he believes that the document is here — in your house. Whether it be there or not, Ziska thinks that it is there."
"Ziska is more fox than fool," said Nina.
"Let that be as it may. I tell you the truth of him. He thinks it is here. Now, Nina, you must search for it."
"It is not there, Anton. I tell you of my own knowledge, it is not in the house. Come and search yourself. Come to-morrow. Come to-night, if you will."