“Ah, that we cannot be sure of,” said Zoe earnestly. “The Prince is coming here, and must tell his own story.”
“Coming here—that villain? Madame, I entreat you, let me take this child, and the faithful woman to whose devotion I owe it that he is spared to me, and seek safety before he is exposed to fresh dangers.”
He stood up, with Janni in his arms, and seemed ready to start at once. Zoe was at her wits’ end.
“But after all, Cavaliere, he is the Prince’s son as well as your grandson,” she pleaded. “We cannot let him go away till his father has seen him.”
“And succeeded in killing him?” with a grim smile.
“But we don’t know that he did try to kill him. And it’s quite certain that he won’t try to do it here. Besides, don’t you see what a good thing it will be for you and the Prince to thresh matters out together on neutral ground, so to speak? You don’t want to go on believing such a dreadful thing as that poor Donna Olimpia was murdered by her own husband if it isn’t true?”
“I think, madame, that it will take a cleverer tongue than even my son-in-law’s to persuade me of his innocence.”
“Well, then,” urged Zoe desperately, “if he did do it, perhaps he will let you keep Janni rather than have the scandal made public. And if he did try to kill him, surely he won’t want him now?”
“Will you pledge yourself that your brother and husband will not give up the child to him, madame?”
“How can I? If he can clear himself, I suppose it is natural he should have him back. But if not, then I think I can promise that at any rate we shall keep Janni in our own charge for the present.”