“We owe our liberty to M. Denver and probably our lives as well, and I don’t think you should say such things.”
This from the Duchess Stephanie surprised me vastly.
“We also owe it to him that the dangers ever arose at all,” retorted Helga quickly. “But I congratulate him upon having won you over so completely to his side that you forget that. My memory is longer. But by all means take his advice.”
“I shall help you best by taking no part in this discussion. There is still something to be done,” I said, and left the room, in the middle of a protest by the Duchess Stephanie against what she termed Helga’s rank ungenerosity.
It was the truth of Helga’s bitter words that hurt me. I had caused the trouble and brought the danger upon them, and I knew only too well that the danger was but averted for a time.
I went in search of Ivan, and with him released our prisoners and Drexel and saw them well away on their return to the city. As we went back to the house Ivan said—
“You will not let the mademoiselle remain here, monsieur?”
“Why not, Ivan?”
“The brotherhood, monsieur. They will hunt her down, and you and M. Boreski.”
“Do you think them really dangerous?”