“But why did you tell us so many lies about yourself and the child?”
“How could I do otherwise, lord? I did not know then the goodness of your hearts, and I desired to save the little lord until I could restore him to his father.”
“Knowing that his father desired nothing of the kind?” demanded the Cavaliere. Happily he spoke in French, and Danaë did not understand him. Maurice interposed hastily.
“The girl had better go now, I think. We can send for her again if anyone wants to question her. Take the little lord back to the nursery, Kalliopé.”
She vanished, with Janni in her arms, and delivered him duly into Linton’s care. But having exactly fulfilled the order she had received, she returned noiselessly, and sat crouched on the verandah close to the window, with so little parade of secrecy that the guards below thought she had been told to return, and did not molest her. The conversation within was continued in French or English, as before she was sent for, and of course she could not understand it.
“I went through the roll of my guard that evening,” said Prince Romanos wearily, “to satisfy myself; and with the exception of Petros, who was on the sick-list, they were all able to account for themselves.”
“Naturally. They were on duty,” snapped the Cavaliere.
“I suppose there is now no objection on your part, Prince, after what we have heard, to admitting that Donna Olimpia was murdered?” interposed Maurice.
“Yes, she was foully murdered,” he groaned.
“Then why invent the diphtheria lie?” demanded Wylie.