What of the confederacy that permits this man to be
your guest while your officers are making mock search for him in the
bazaar? Your judges, even such as they are, will laugh him out of court
when he tries to substantiate the charge he has brought against Baron
von Kerber. Poor, love-sick fool!--to gratify his spite he attacks his
rival with false evidence rather than let it be known that a woman
twisted him round her little finger. Look at him now; he would strike
me dead, if he dared; but he cannot answer me."
Alfieri leaped to his feet. His voice rose to a cracked falsetto.
"You hear, you hear!" was his cry. "She robbed me of the papyrus, yet
boasts of it. She is a thief, self-confessed."
Mrs. Haxton also sprang up. Her physical dread of the man had yielded
to the triumph of having cornered him.
"Truly I hope his Excellency hears," she said. "If I am to blame for
the loss of your papers, why is Baron von Kerber in prison on your
testimony?"
"You are both in league," he almost screamed. "I was blind, infatuated,
at Assouan.
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