"Excuse me, monsignor," rejoined Mila, taking from her bosom a dagger which the princess had given to Magnani the day before, and of which she had succeeded in gaining possession without his knowledge: "I could not see a man killed in cold blood without fainting, I think; but if I were insulted, I think that my anger would carry me a long way." "So you prepared for war, did you, Mila? You had no confidence in me, I see." "As in God, monsignor; but God is everywhere, and some unforeseen accident might have prevented you from being here." "Do you know that it was very brave in you to come, Mila? and that if people knew it----" "Well, my lord?" "Instead of admiring your heroism, they would blame your rashness." "There is one thing I know very well," said Mila, with a sort of playful excitement, "and that is that, if people knew of my being closeted here with you, I should be lost." "Doubtless! Slander----" "Slander and calumny! Half as much would be enough to cause a young girl to be cried down and degraded forever." "And you felt sure that this expedition of yours would be enveloped forever in impenetrable mystery?" "I relied upon your prudence, and I left the rest in God's hands. I know very well that there are many risks to run; but did you not tell me that it was a question of saving my father's life and the Princess Agatha's honor?" "And you carried your devotion to the point of endangering your own honor, without regret?" "Endangering it in public opinion? I prefer that to allowing those whom I love to be killed and dishonored. As between them and myself, isn't it better that I should be the victim? But what does all this mean, monsignor? You speak to me in a very strange way; one would think that you were rebuking me for believing in you and for doing what you advised me to do." "No, Mila, I am questioning you. Forgive me for trying to understand you and know you, so that I may esteem you as much as you deserve." "Very good; I will answer you frankly." "Well, my child, tell me everything. Did it not occur to you that I might be setting a trap for you, and be luring you hither to insult you, or, at least, to try to seduce you?"