If it were only for Arthur's sake she longed for a certainty as to this man who stood opposed to him in the fight, and she felt that though the truth should be denied to all the world beside, it would not be so to her.
"You know what I mean then?" she began again. "You understand to what I allude? Hartmann, can you solemnly declare the reports connected with that unhappy hour to be false?"
He crossed his arms on his breast, and looked moodily to the ground.
"If I were to do so would you believe me?"
Eugénie was silent
"Would you believe me?" he asked again, in a tone as though life or death hung on her answer.
She let her eyes rest for a moment on his face. It was fully turned towards her now, and she saw that it was ashy pale, and, like his voice, betrayed an agonised tension of feeling.
"You might be capable of a crime, I think, if you were stung to passion. I do not think you are capable of a lie."
Ulric's mighty chest heaved with a deep sigh of relief. As though completely to re-assure her, he stepped back again away from her.
"Ask me what you please, my lady, I will answer you."