No—you need make no denial for yourselves.
[To PIKE, haughtily.]
Do you think I would believe that an English noble would stoop—
PIKE
[with passionate indignation]
Stoop! Why, ten years ago in St. Petersburg there was a poor revolutionist who, in his crazy patriotism, took government [pg 146] money for the cause he believed in. He made the mistake of keeping that money in his house, when this man
[pointing at HAWCASTLE]
knew it was there. He also made the mistake of having a wife that this man coveted and stole—as he coveted and stole the money. Oh, he made a good job of it! Don't think that to-night is the first time he has given information to the police. He did it then, and the husband went to Siberia—
HAWCASTLE
[staggered and enraged]