“What do you mean?”
“I have shown you my hand, and you can see it’s a strong one. Why not take the card you’ve been keeping up your sleeve. You have one, you know.”
“Do you mean you are willing to submit to me?”
“No, indeed, I don’t. I’ve shown you I can set you at defiance and face the worst you can do, with absolute confidence that I shall win. But I’m willing to listen to what you came to say. You haven’t given us the proof that Helga’s charge against you in regard to her father is mistaken. What’s the proof?”
“I can prove it by the man most concerned.”
Helga went white to the lips.
“By her own father—Prince Lavalski. He is still living—in Siberia.”
“My God, my poor father!” cried Helga, falling into a chair and covering her face with her hands. I crossed and laid my hand on her shoulder.
“Courage, Helga, courage. This may be good news, dearest.”