"But you will at least allow that I have been frank with you: it only remains for you to admit or deny the truth of my conclusions."
"But what if I choose to do neither?"
"Then my opinion will be confirmed, and I shall earnestly endeavor to convince my aunt that her son is more dangerous than she supposes."
Waldemar's voice had a tone of cutting irony as he replied,--
"You may have very excellent judgment, Countess Morynski, but you are not a diplomatist; if you were, you would be more guarded in your expressions. Dangerous? That is a significant word."
The young girl gave an involuntary start. "I merely repeated your own expression," she said, regaining her self-control.
"Ah! I began to think that something was going on in Villica, the success of which might be endangered by my presence."
Wanda made no reply. She began to see how indiscreet she had been. Her adversary had parried every thrust, returned every blow, and entrapped her in her own words. He had also possessed the advantage of remaining cool and collected, while she had lost her temper. She saw that she must attempt to rescue herself from the net which her own indiscretion had woven around her.
"Will you desist from this mockery?" she said, fixing her large, defiant eyes full upon his face. "I know that it is directed solely against me. You at last force me to allude to a subject which I recall very much against my will. I once wronged, perhaps insulted you, and you have never forgotten it. I was entirely to blame--I confess it--will you forgive me?"
The apology was made in a tone which expressed all the pride of a woman who realizes that it is no humiliation to ask forgiveness of the man with whom she has trifled. Its effect was entirely different from what she had expected.