"My dear lady, in Roumania, twenty years ago, the bravest men, the biggest hearts, were at Zallony's command. His regiment of hussars was the finest that the world has ever seen. Bukharest made it a fashion to send young men secretly to its ranks. The name of Zallony stood for a brotherhood of men, not soldiers only, but those sworn to fidelity upon the Cross; to serve each other faithfully, to hold all things in common--the poor devils, how little they had to hold!--such were Zallony's hussars. Lady, your father and my father served together in the ranks; they took a common oath--they rode the hills, lived wild nights on desolate mountains, shared good fortune and ill, until an unlucky day when a woman came between them and brotherhood was no more. I was such a little fellow then that I could not lift the sword they put into my hands; but they filled my body up with wine and I rode my pony after them, many a day that shall never be forgotten. This is to tell you that my mother, a little wild girl of the Carpathians, died the year I was born. Her I do not remember--a thing to be regretted, for who may say what a mother's memory may not do for that man who will let it be his guiding star. I did not know her, Lady Evelyn. When they carried my father to prison, the priests took charge of me and filled my head with their stories of peace and good-will--the head of one who had ridden with Zallony on the hills and heard the call to arms as soon as he could hear anything at all. They told me that my father was dead--five years ago I learned that he lived. Lady Evelyn, he is a prisoner, and I have come to England to give him liberty." He looked at her, waiting for a second question, nor did she disappoint him. "Can my father help you to do that, Count?" "My dear lady, consider his position. An English noble, bearing his honored name; the master of great riches--what cannot he do if he will? Let him say but one word to my Government and the affair is done. I shall see my dear father again--the world will be a new world for me. My lord has but to speak." "Is it possible that he could hesitate?" "All things are possible where human folly is concerned." "Then there would be a reason, Count?" "And a consequence, Lady Evelyn." "Oh," she said quickly, "you are not frank with me even now." "So frank that I speak to you as I never spoke to another in all my life. You are the only person in England who can help me and help your father to do well. I have asked him for the liberty of a man who never did him a wrong. He has refused to answer me, yes or no. Why should I tell you that delay is dangerous? If I am silent a little while, do you not guess that it is for your sake that I am silent? These things are rarely hidden from clever women. Say that Count Odin has learned to be a lover and you will question me no more."