"Stolen! Who will steal it?"
She shrugged. "Who wouldn't--in a righteous cause?" She caught his arm again to emphasize the importance of her words. "To help the cause of Free Institutions in Europe? You! I! Anyone with a cause like that near his heart."
Rowland flicked his cigarette into the bushes. "I am very dense. There seem to be more causes than one at Nemi, more axes than one to grind. Let me be direct," he said coolly. "Yours--Madame Rochal. What is it?" he asked.
She glanced at him swiftly.
"You do not know?"
"Obviously, or I should not be asking."
She paused a moment, looking away from him. And then as though coming to a resolution she turned and spoke in a low tone. "These others believe that I am acting for the Social Democrats of Germany, like Max Liederman, but that is not the case."
"Ah--what then?"
"I am trusting you, Monsieur----"
"By the witchery in your eyes, I swear----"