"If I tell you all my little story, you will hold it in confidence?"
He looked up and smiled. "I would do much more than that for you, Christabel," he answered, simply, using my name now without any hesitation, and in a quite different tone from that before. "You may trust me implicitly, child, on my honour."
"I am going to surprise you. The name I bear is not my father's. I took it when my uncle, John P. Gilmore, died and left me his fortune. He made me a wealthy woman. My father was of Pesth, Colonel von Dreschler. I have come here to seek justice for his name and mine. I see how this affects you. If you cannot help me, I will say no more."
He released my hand to press his own to his eyes; and when he withdrew it he gazed at me very earnestly.
"You are his child! Gott in Himmel, his child."
"I did not hide my name because I was ashamed of it," I said.
"You have no need, Christabel. It was a damnable thing that was done. He was my friend, and I will help you all I can."
Then without reserve I told him everything I had learnt and all that I had done. He let me tell the story without interruption, and put his questions at the end.
"I cannot tell you you are not in danger from Count Gustav and his father. Your very name is a source of danger; and were you another woman I should counsel you with all insistence to give this up and go away. But you will not do that. I know you too well. I must think how to protect you. You have set me a very difficult task; but it shall not be impossible. Yet I dare not let my hand be seen in it. I will think it all over until I find a way. Meanwhile, trust me as your father would have done; and let me hear something of you every day. I shall know no ease of mind if I do not hear, every day. A note or message, saying all is well with you, will be enough. And if you find yourself in any trouble, let me know of it—I shall guess it, indeed, if I do not hear any day from you. And I will pledge myself to get you out—even if I have to appeal to Vienna on your behalf."
"I need no more than the knowledge that your help is behind me. But you think the danger is really serious?"