“Kalliopé, you had a hand in this horrible murder!”
“No murder was intended, lady. The Despot desired only to put the woman where the Lord Romanos would not find her. But there was some mistake. Petros told me that among his helpers there were those who would willingly see her slain, and I warned him to do no more than he was commanded. He assured me all was well, and I helped to open the gate, not knowing that the evil men of whom he had spoken would be with him after all.”
“Kalliopé!” There was such disappointment and misery in Zoe’s cry that Prince Romanos sprang forward.
“Don’t waste your pity on this wretched girl, Princess. She is trying to take us all in. Can you conceive a person of my father’s standing initiating such a plot? It is preposterous, and she shall confess her falsehood on her knees.”
In his excitement he had spoken in Greek, and now he tried to seize Danaë. She shook herself free from him with flashing eyes. “You know little of your father, lord, if you refuse to believe me.”
“I know more of him than Eurynomé the nurse-maid. On your knees, girl! and confess that you have lied.”
“But not more of him than his daughter. Yes, lord, I am your sister. Not Eurynomé the nurse-girl, but Danaë, daughter of the Despot Agesilaos Christodoridi and of the Lady Xantippe his wife.”
CHAPTER XVIII.
EXPELLED FROM PARADISE.
There was a moment’s astonished silence as the listeners gazed at the two handsome faces confronting one another, so much alike in their rage. Then Prince Romanos sprang at his sister like a tiger.
“You killed her? You and my father killed my wife?”