Khodkine's gaze sought the eyes of the other men in confirmation.
"It is the truth, Monsieur," muttered Picard. "We saw. It was a fair combat. But it was written--what happened!"
Monsieur Khodkine's look passed slowly from one to the other and at last rested on Rowland, who met his glance calmly, soberly, without deference--but without defiance.
"He tried to kill me, Monsieur," he said quietly, "he was dangerous, and so----" He shrugged. "What would you? He fell and his head struck a stone----"
The Russian stared a moment.
"Then you----" He paused.
Rowland smiled a little.
"It seems, Monsieur," he said coolly, "that I am your new Priest of Nemi."
There was a long silence during which the Russian stared at Rowland more intently as though correcting a former and mistaken impression. At last he took a pace forward and the eyes of the two men met.
"You--you knew?" he asked.