It was Olivia's voice; a light was thrown upon the scene, for she stood beside the combatants with a candle in her hand.
They drew back at a mutual spasm, and Montaiglon saw that his antagonist was the Baron of Doom!
CHAPTER XIX — REVELATION
Doom, astounded, threw the dagger from him with an exclamation. His eyes, large and burning yet with passion, were wholly for Count Victor, though his daughter Olivia stood there at his side holding the light that had revealed the furies to each other, her hair in dark brown cataracts on her shoulders, and eddying in bewitching curls upon her ears and temples, that gleamed below like the foam of mountain pools.
“Father! father! what does this mean?” she cried. “There is some fearful mistake here.”
“That is not to exaggerate the position, at all events,” thought Count Victor, breathing hard, putting the knife unobserved behind him. He smiled to this vision and shrugged his shoulders. He left the elucidation of the mystery to the other gentleman, this counsellor of forgiveness and peace, clad head to foot in the garb he contemned, and capable of some excellent practice with daggers in the darkness.
“I'll never be able to say how much I regret this, Count Victor,” said Doom. “Good God! your hands were going, and in a second or two more—”
“For so hurried a farce,” said Count Victor, “the lowered light was something of a mistake, n'est ce pas? I—I—I just missed the point of the joke,” and he glanced at the dagger glittering sinister in the corner of the stair.
“I have known your mistake all along,” cried Olivia. “Oh! it is a stupid thing this. I will tell you! It is my father should have told you before.”