Zaniloff permitted the merest suspicion of a smile to lurk about the corners of a sensual mouth.
"It is difficult," he said dryly—and then, "your memory will be better later on. Did the girl tell you that his excellency would be assassinated?"
"You know very well that she did not."
"I know?"
"Certainly, you have had too much experience not to know."
"Most flattering—please do not mistake me. I am asking you these questions because I wish that justice shall be done. If you can do nothing to clear Lois Boriskoff, I am afraid that we shall have to flog her."
"That would be a cowardly thing to do. It would also be very foolish. She has many friends both here and in England. I don't think they will forget her."
"Wild talk, Mr. Kennedy, very wild talk. I see that you will not help me. We must let the Governor know as much and he will decide. I warn you at the same time that it will go very hard with you if the Count should die—and as for this woman, we will try other measures. She must certainly be flogged."
"If you do that, I myself will see that her friends in England know about it. The Governor will never be so foolish—that is, if he wishes to save Mr. Gessner."