"I only wonder that you did not turn your knowledge of these occurrences to account sooner," went on Raven; "you, or the others who shared it."
"You can answer that question yourself," said Brunnow. "We lacked evidence. If we ourselves were profoundly convinced of your guilt, that was our affair alone. The world requires proofs, tangible proofs, and these we could not produce. Why no voice has been raised against you before this, you ask? No one knows better than you that, in those arbitrary times, which, it is to be hoped, are now for ever past and gone, every inconvenient voice was hushed and stifled. Then Arno Raven rapidly acquired influence, became the friend and favourite of the Minister, whom he was shortly to call father. Later on, as Baron von Raven, he was the most powerful stay and support of the Government, to whom he had become indispensable. No accusation against such a man would have been admitted; it would at once have been stigmatised as a lie, a calumnious lie, and suppressed as such. We all knew this, and the knowledge kept the others silent, I was not withheld by these considerations alone. I ... had no desire to accuse you, and have none now. Some admissions made by me during my confinement--admissions which were, I fear, purposely extracted from me--may have served as a basis for the present revelations. The Superintendent of Police has certainly had to do with the business. He is your enemy."
"No, he is simply a spy," said Raven, contemptuously; "and, therefore, I do not think of calling him to account. It was no duty of his, moreover, to keep back information which you had communicated to him. The information came from you, and to you I look for satisfaction."
Brunnow started back. "Satisfaction? From me? What do you mean?"
"What can I mean? It seems to me no explanation is necessary. There is but one way of wiping out an insult such as you have offered me. You will not refuse me this atonement, I suppose?"
Not a syllable escaped the Doctor's lips.
"On our first meeting after a lapse of years," pursued the other, "you spoke to me words which made my blood boil in my veins. You were then a proscribed man, who had hastened to his son's sick-bed; every hour you spent here was fraught with danger. That was no fitting moment to demand an explanation. Now you are free--so name your time and arms."
"A duel between us!" exclaimed Brunnow. "No, Arno, you cannot exact this!"
"I insist on it. You will accept my challenge?"
"No."