She looked at me and paused before replying.
“If I could answer your question as you wish, I would. But I shall never give in. Nothing will ever satisfy me but victory.”
“All the greater reason, then, for me to do my utmost now,” I answered; but she saw I was disappointed at her reply.
“No. It is the greater reason for you to abandon the attempt and leave me to fight on in my own way.”
“That is not how we Americans fight.”
“But in America you know nothing of the conditions of such a trouble as this. You do not yet know the risks you run. If we attack Prince Kalkov and fail, do you think he will not know how to wreak his revenge upon us—upon all concerned? Ah, monsieur, what can a Republican know of the ways of Russia?”
“I’m beginning to get an insight, at least,” I said lightly.
“You fight with your votes over there, and risk perhaps some of your money; but here the stakes are human life and liberty. God help us.”
She spoke so vehemently that Madame Korvata awoke, and our conversation ended.
When we neared the city I told Helga I should not drive with her to her destination, and asked her to tell me exactly the location of the house.