She turned full upon me.
“Because you do not know me; because——” she broke off and then said steadily, almost defiantly: “I am no Nihilist, nor is M. Boreski.”
“And he has had no dealings with them?” I felt convinced that he had. “I mean to your knowledge?”
“You cross-examine like a lawyer.” A flash of scorn was in her eyes as she looked at me angrily. “If we have had what you term dealings with them, it was because it was necessary, and no other way was left to me.”
“You are not afraid to handle edged tools, and I am sorry to hear what you say.”
“I am not afraid of anything that can help my purpose.”
“I never heard of Nihilism helping anything or anybody.”
“I choose my own means, and go my own way,” she said defiantly.
“I can believe that; but I am not accusing you, nor need you defend yourself—to me. I believe that whatever you have done, you have been driven to do, and have believed yourself justified in doing—for this great purpose you speak of. But others may think very differently.”
“You do not ask what it is. You do not care, I suppose. Yet——” There was pain now in her voice, and a sigh finished the broken sentence.