"Well, my lord?"
"Instead of admiring your heroism, they would blame your rashness."
"There is one thing I know very well," said Mila, with a sort of playful excitement, "and that is that, if people knew of my being closeted here with you, I should be lost."
"Doubtless! Slander——"
"Slander and calumny! Half as much would be enough to cause a young girl to be cried down and degraded forever."
"And you felt sure that this expedition of yours would be enveloped forever in impenetrable mystery?"
"I relied upon your prudence, and I left the rest in God's hands. I know very well that there are many risks to run; but did you not tell me that it was a question of saving my father's life and the Princess Agatha's honor?"
"And you carried your devotion to the point of endangering your own honor, without regret?"
"Endangering it in public opinion? I prefer that to allowing those whom I love to be killed and dishonored. As between them and myself, isn't it better that I should be the victim? But what does all this mean, monsignor? You speak to me in a very strange way; one would think that you were rebuking me for believing in you and for doing what you advised me to do."
"No, Mila, I am questioning you. Forgive me for trying to understand you and know you, so that I may esteem you as much as you deserve."