“Yes,” the general admitted. “You have prejudiced yourself in His Excellency’s eyes, I fear. Your indignation was but natural, but it was ill-advised at that moment. The Minister Morini is not the man to brook defiance in that manner.”
“But I do defy him still!” cried the desperate man, turning to the tragic figure in black. “Although he is your father, signorina, I repeat that he has done me an injustice—and that injustice is because he, like the others, fears to give me my liberty!”
“But if you were released—if I could manage to obtain for you a pardon—would you make the revelations of which you have spoken?”
For some minutes he was silent, thinking deeply, apparently reflecting upon the consequences of speaking the truth. Then he answered—
“No. I think not.”
“Why not?”
“Because—well, because there are one or two facts of which I have no absolute proof.”
“But you are certain of Dubard’s connection with the false charges against you?”
“Positive. He arranged with Filoména Nodari for my betrayal.”
“But why? I cannot see the motive, and yet he must have had one!”