"How much do you want?"
"My intention is nothing of the kind. My object is to avenge the
outrageous injury to Elma Heath."
"Of course. That is only natural, m'sieur, if you have fallen in love
with her," he said. "But are not your intentions somewhat ill-advised
considering her position as a criminal lunatic?"
"She is neither," I protested quickly.
"Very well. You know better than myself," he laughed. "The offense for
which she was condemned to confinement in a fortress was the attempted
assassination of Madame Vakuroff, wife of the General commanding the
Uleaborg Military Division."
"Assassination!" I cried. "Have you actually sent her to prison as a
murderess?"
"I have not. The Criminal Court of Abo did so," he said dryly. "The
offense has since been proved to have been the outcome of a political
conspiracy, and the Minister of the Interior in Petersburg last week
signed an order for the prisoner's transportation to the island of
Saghalien."
"Ah!" I remarked with set teeth.
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