'No, no, of course not. Well?'
'It would get out that they were planning a return to Gloria. Now I know—and I dare say you know—that a return to Gloria by his Excellency would mean the stopping of the supplies to hundreds of rascals there, who are living on public plunder, and who are always living on it as long as he is not there, and who never will be allowed to live upon it as long as he is there—don't you see?'
'Oh yes, dear; I see very plainly.'
'It's all true what I say, isn't it?'
'Quite true—quite—quite true.'
'Well, now, I dare say you begin to take my idea. You know how little that gang of scoundrels care about the life of any man.'
'Oh, father, please don't!' She had her riding-whip in her hand, and she made a quick movement with it, expressively suggesting how she should like to deal with such scoundrels.
'My child, my child, it has to be talked about. You don't seem quite in your usual form to-day——'
'Oh, yes; I'm all right. But it sounds so dreadful. You don't really think people are plotting to kill—him?'
'I don't say that they are; but from what I know of the scoundrels out there who are opposed to him, it wouldn't one bit surprise me.'