"I am afraid I know what you are going to say."
"To ask plainly whether you will do justice to my father and tell me the whole story of that cruel wrong."
"The whole story?" he asked, anxiety in both look and tone.
"The whole story—nothing less will satisfy me."
He paused in evident distress, and pressed his hand tightly on his forehead. "It cannot be. It is impossible. Count Karl urged me—he of all men—but I told him what I tell you—it is impossible."
"Then you will never see Gareth again." I made my voice as hard and cold as I could.
"I have feared this," he murmured.
"And I, Colonel Katona, have worked for it."
"I cannot, I cannot," he murmured again, love and fear doing desperate battle in his mind. "You are not so cruel."
"I can be as hard as steel in this cause. Hear what I have done. I know, of course, where she is. I know the man who has done her this wrong. I have to-day so planned matters that to-morrow he shall know where to find her. If you do not speak now to help me, I declare to you that to-morrow Gareth shall be again in his arms."