“Kalliopé, you have been in this house for some months. Don’t you understand yet that your mistress has always meant kindly towards you, and done everything in her power for your good? She can’t believe, and I can’t believe, that you could repay her kindness in such a way. Tell us the truth now, and I will pledge myself that as soon as the child is recovered you shall be sent safely back to your own home, and no punishment inflicted on you.”
“You will not believe me, lord, if I do tell you the exact truth,” cried Danaë defiantly.
“If it is indeed the truth, we will,” he replied.
“Then hear the truth, lord. I did go out and speak to the man Petros two nights ago, and I did pass through the back courtyard to speak to him again last night, carrying a child in my arms. But he was not at the place he had appointed, and the child was my own little lord, and not the Lord Harold. When I did not find Petros, I carried my little lord back into the house. I knew you would not believe me!” she cried angrily, looking round at the faces of the rest.
“How can we believe you, Kalliopé?” asked Maurice. “You would have us believe that you took little Janni out and brought him back again, and that this had nothing to do with the Lord Harold’s disappearance. Now, be honest. Did you hand over the Lord Harold to Petros by mistake for Janni?”
He realised the futility of the question even before the dark cloud gathered on Danaë’s brow. “I mistake another for my little lord!” she cried, in supreme disdain.
“Then did you try to deceive Petros by giving him the wrong child, hoping to keep Janni here?”
“No. I was going with him myself. But of course you will not believe me. Do you believe me, lady?” she demanded suddenly of Zoe. For the moment the impulse to tell the truth from the very beginning was upon her.
“Oh, Kalliopé, how can I? You have told us so many falsehoods!” moaned Zoe. Danaë cast upon the rest a look of mingled scorn and reproach, and turned to go in at the door. But as she did so, Armitage stepped forward and took her hand.
“Lady Kalliopé, I believe what you have told us to be true. Now be brave, and you shall prove your truth to all. The Lady Zoe will joyfully acknowledge that she was wrong when she receives her child back. There must be more that you can tell us which would throw light upon his loss and help us to find him. Don’t let your pride make our grief deeper.”