"I had thought of that," I returned coolly. For, indeed, I had thought of it, although not at all from the motive she understood me to mean.
"You had thought of it?" she cried. "Do you say that earnestly, or only to lead me on?"
"Was it not this very point that you were discussing with your brother when you entered the garden last night, princess?" I asked, recalling the mention of my name between them at that time.
"Yes; I had said to him that you were the kind of a man who should be added to our ranks. I think you must have heard his reply."
"Yes."
"Do you know what nihilism is, Mr. Dubravnik?"
"No. I have always regarded it as a dangerous organization; morally dangerous, I mean. You must not think that I have considered joining it for any other reason than to place myself in a position where I will feel that it is my duty to respect the confidence that I stole from you, rather than to betray it."
"Then you never had such a thought until you knew I was a nihilist?"
"Never."
"And you would join us for my sake?"