'Was this well done, Helena?' he asked, more sadly than sternly.
'Bravely done—by Helena,' the Dictator exclaimed; 'well done as all is, as everything is, that is done by Helena!'
'At least you might have told me of this, Ericson,' Sir Rupert said, turning on the Dictator, and glad to have a man to dispute with. 'You might have forewarned me of all this.'
'I could not forewarn you, Sir Rupert, of what I did not know myself.'
'Did not know yourself?'
'Not until a very few minutes ago.'
'Did you not know that you were making love to my daughter?'
'Until just now—just before you came in—I did not make love to your daughter.'
'Oh, it was the girl who made love to you, I suppose!'
The Dictator's eyes flashed fire for a second and then were calm again. Even in that moment he could feel for Helena's father.