This was after I had thoroughly convinced him that I was heart and hand in the cause of which he believed himself to be the leader, and had told him that Althea should be taken fully into our confidence.
I saw her alone first, however, and gave her an account of all that had passed. She was deeply moved by the story.
"They are merely making a tool of him, Mr. Bastable; and they must have given him that awful thing because they were afraid of the results to themselves should it be discovered in their possession. My poor father!"
"If you will take the line I have already taken with him, I think it may be possible to stop any further mischief at least," I said. "But he must be made to feel that unless he trusts to me he can do nothing. Then we can see about getting him away from the city."
"But the danger to you. We have no right to place you in such a position. I intended to take him away somewhere to-day."
"Bessie told me something about that. But it is impracticable. You had better remain here. You forget that you promised Herr Feldermann to let him know wherever you were," I reminded her.
"I am still confident that all will come right if we can only get time enough. And time we must have at any risk and cost."
"There is always one way open," she said hesitatingly. "At least I presume so. Do you think if I were to agree to do what Herr von Felsen requires, that he could still obtain my father’s pardon?"
"What else can I do?" she cried distractedly.
"For one thing--keep a stout heart and have patience. I do not pretend that your father’s arrival here and his visit to the Jew’s house has not seriously complicated matters; but you may still have a little grain of trust in me."
"As if I had not! But the thought of the danger you are----" She broke off as if she had been about to say something that might have been embarrassing. "Of course I trust you," she added after the pause.
"That is all I ask--at present, at all events, until that last resource you spoke of need no longer be contemplated. And now, let us have this talk with your father."
She put out her hand impulsively, and as I pressed it our eyes met. No other word was spoken, but I think she understood much of what I should have said had not my lips been sealed.