human
And my brother?--my poor unfortunate brother? cried she in a wrung voice.
gpt
He had no share in the crime, I'll swear it, Mr. Cleek. Even your magic cannot prove that.
human
Not in the crime actually, Lady Paula, but in--other things, he replied a trifle grimly, glancing again at the flushed face of the prisoner.
gpt
For as a blackmailer I fancy he is something of an artist. That fact you already know--to your cost, I fancy. And I think I'm not wrong in saying that it was he who suggested to you the stealing of the will and----
human
I begged him not to, Mr. Cleek! I implored. I did-- I swear it. And I never stole the will, that I can promise! she broke in distractedly, beating her hands together.
gpt
Antoni suggested--yes--he wished to destroy it, so that my share of the estate might be greater as widow than that which had been apportioned to me, and of course he would have a portion of that, too. But I implored him not--that is true, is it not, Antoni? You can answer to that? I begged you, and you promised! And he threatened me even with exposure if I did not agree to the preposterous idea! I complied, only upon the promise that it should not be destroyed. But who took it I do not know.
human
But I think I can pretty well guess, responded Cleek serenely, with a quick look at Cyril's suddenly flushed face.
gpt
Your son, Lady Paula, has much of his uncle's blood in his veins. And he acted, no doubt, upon _forceful_ advice, and carried the thing through quite successfully. Perhaps he will tell us just when he decided to steal his own father's will--at the instigation of an unscrupulous relation.