Phroso

my may be pleased to do with you. This relaxation was vouchsafed to my brain when I awoke in the morning and found the sun streaming into the whitewashed cell-like room. It was the feast of St

de sure that Denny had found his way safely, and that the Cypriote fishermen had been benevolent. I proved to myself that with Constantine's exposure his power would end. I plumed myself on having put Vlacho hors de combat. I believe I said to myself that villainy would

reveries were ru

sweet plea

bles when r

reality was pressing hard on me again, crushing hope into resign

out,' cried

to myself, wondering what had be

asked him what he wanted. He answered only with a command that I should get

ur cripples brought up the rear, praying as they went, and stretching out their hands towards the sacred picture which the old man carried. At a sign from Demetri we also put ourselves in motion again, and the whole body of us thus made for the seashore. But some three hundred yards short of the water I perceived a broad level space, covered with short rough turf and surrounded for about half its circuit by a crescent-shaped bank two or three feet high. On this bank sat some twenty people, and crowded in front of it was the same ragged picturesque company of armed peasants that I had seen gather in the street on the occasion of our arrival. The old man with the picture made his way to the centre of the level ground. Thrice he raised the picture towards the sky, every one uncovering his head and kneeling down the while. He began to pray, but I did not listen to what he said; for by this time my attention had wandered from him and was fixed in

lf, and all the world apparently, except the islanders of Neopalia. Then he seated himself between Phroso and Constantine, who made room for him. I was surprised to see him assume so much dignity, but I presumed that he was treated with exceptional honour on the feast day. When he had taken his place, about twenty of the men came into the middle of the ring and began to dance, arranging themselves in a semicircle, moving

central seats. 'Step forward,' said one of my guards, and I, obeying him, lifted my hat and bowed to Phroso. Then replacing my hat, I stood waiting the pleasure of the assembly. All eyes were fixed on Constantine, who remained seated and silent yet a little while longer. Then

eason no man knows better tha

here was a smothered laugh or two when Constantine called him 'a brave true man.' The orator detected his failure and shifted his ground dexterously, passing on, in rapid transition, to ask in what quarrel Vlacho had died. Now

e and taken his stand by me, and I knew that Demetri would jump at the first excuse to make my silence perpetual. S

Lady out of her inheritance. What shall he suffer? For although we may not kill on St Tryphon's day, we may judge on

death merely an incidental affair of no great importance. I suppose that Phroso understood this as well as I, for now she rose suddenly. Constantine seemed disinc

e thought that the island was his by right, and when he was attacked he

nd, the islan

up the paper which I had given to her and read the writing aloud in a clear voice. 'What have you against him now?

dly from hand to hand, greeted with surprised murmurs and intense excitement. Phroso stood watching its progress. Cons

h a sigh of relief. 'He has given

n, and I saw Kortes support her with his arm. But Constantine was

men who deserve great punishment. How guileless you are, O Neopalians! But this man is not guileless. He can delude a girl. He can delude you also, it seems. Ay, let him go with his story to the Governor at Rhodes, and do you hide in the rocks when the

ldered at it and gazed at her cousin with parted lips. Angry glances were agai

set him free. It may be that he will give us an oath not to harm us, but to go aw

ssity of making one which might have such important results this way or that. But I w

here, and Spiro. I am content with that. I'll cry you quits. I have given back the island to the Lady Euphrosyne; and what I give to a woman-ay, or to a man-I do not ask again either of a Governor or of anybody else. Therefore

assent and approbation when the old priest, tru

my lord feared. He will give us an oa

king as sour as a man could look. It went to my heart to go on, for I knew that what I had to say

eceived a girl. With that man I'll not cry quits; for I swore that I would not rest till he paid the penalty of his crimes. By that oath I stand. Therefore, when I go from here, I shall, as Constantine Stefanopoulos has said, go to Rhodes an

is hand move towards a pocket. I suspected what lay in that pocket. I heard low eage

man of whom

I. 'There-Constant

uck him fairly between the eyes. He went down. A hoarse cry rose from the crowd; but in an instant Kortes had leapt from where he stood behind Phroso

cried. 'Did he not stab the old ma

wled a dozen low fierce voices; bu

my Lord Constantine,' sa

e old man,' said Demetri, who had picked

yielded, and the rest had left off attacking him;

and Constantine caug

e one who did not know that he had yielded.' Then I saw his eye fal

onderful readiness, 'my tongue is loosed. It was V

lever lie, and he made haste to

I besiege the Englishman alone? Will the Governor be content with one victim? Is it not one head in

him again, an

die! Let

eak, Phroso rose, and, stretchin

e your own life, my lord. If my cous

in the ranks of listening women, I saw that old woman whom we had found watching by the dying

o stabbed the old lord? Whose name did

tre of the throng. The surprise of my sudden

e! You, Constantine"?' I as

lf dead with fear and fastened fascinated eyes on Constan

woman,' I cried.

es gleaming in triumph as he turned a glance of

the single word that came from her trembling lips was 'Vlacho.' Constantine gave a cry of triumph, Demetri a wild shout; the isla

ture. If she swears by the picture, and then says it was Vlacho,

appealed to their rude sense of justice

sacred picture,' cried se

head feebly and fell to choked weeping. But the men round her were resolute, one of them menac

n, speak,' said t

hread; but by saying 'Vlacho' she would cut the thread. She looked at me, at Co

the priest t

ke in low fe

t. But my Lord Constantine struck; and when my lord lay dying it was the name of Constantine that he uttered in reproach.' And the old woman reeled and would have fal

ry for offences, could not afford to think of the old woman no

een paid! If he had lived, and if this man had lived, they would have brought soldiers and constrained us. So I slew him, and therefore I have sought to kill the stranger also. Who

h appeal more flocked to him. There were but three or four left n

to help this man to take our island? Yes, I, Constantine Stefanopoulos, though I was blood of his blood-I killed him. W

to Kortes. 'Don't get yourself into trouble!' Then I folded my arms and waited. But I do not mean to say

of the hall; he brandished it now over his head and rushed straight at me. It seemed to be all over, and I thought that the best I could do was to take it quietly; so I stood still. But on a sudden I was pulled back by a powerful arm. Kortes flung me behind him and stood between me and Demetri's rush. An instant later ten or more of them were round Kortes. He struck at them, but they dodged him. One cried, 'Don't hurt Kortes,' and another, running agilely round, caught his arms from behind, and, all gathering about him, they wrested his weapons from him. My last

must kill me; I will

n gloomy wrath and trembling excitement from behind the protecting backs of his sto

is life to

e spoke I saw a sudden rush of red spread over her neck; yet

ve him as I love my life-ah, a

IS LIFE TO