He broke off and shifted his position. His fierce eyes rested tenderly upon her as she sat holding the motherless infant caressingly in her arms.
“You have heard the latest news?” he asked presently, “That Carl Pérousse has left the country?”
“No, I have not heard that,” said Lotys; “But why was he allowed to go without being punished for his dishonesty?”
“To punish him, would have involved the punishment of many more associated with him,” replied Thord; “His estates are confiscated;—the opportunity was given him to escape, in order to avoid further Ministerial scandals,—and he has taken the chance afforded him!”
She was silent.
“Jost too has gone,” pursued Thord; “He has sold his paper to his chief rival. So that now both journals are amalgamated under one head, and work for the same cause—our cause, and the King’s.”
Lotys looked up with a slight smile.
“It is the same old system then?” she said. “For whereas before there was one newspaper subsidised by a fraudulent Ministry, there are now two, subsidised by the Royal Government;—with which the Socialist party is united!”
He frowned.
“You mistake! We shall subsidise no newspaper whatever. We shall not pursue any such mistaken policy.”