I was disgusted at his savagery, but I said coolly:
"And the lady?"
"The lady believes what she is told, and will do as her cousin bids
her. Is she not his affianced wife?"
"The deuce she is!" I cried in amazement, fixing a keen scrutiny on
Vlacho's face. The face told me nothing.
"Certainly," he said, gently. "And they will rule the island
together."
"Will they, though?" said I. I was becoming rather annoyed. "There are
one or two obstacles in the way of that. First, it's my island."
He shrugged his shoulders again. "That," he seemed to say, "is not
worth answering." But I had a second shot in the locker for him, and
I let him have it for what it was worth. I knew it might be worth
nothing, but I tried it.
"And secondly," I observed, "how many wives does Constantine propose
to have?"
A hit! A hit! A palpable hit! I could have sung in glee. The fellow
was dumb-founded. He turned red, bit his lip, scowled fiercely.
"What do you mean?" he blurted out, with an attempt at blustering
defiance.
"Never mind what I mean. Something, perhaps, that the Lady Euphrosyne
might care to know. And now, my man, what do you want of me?"
He recovered his composure, and stated his errand with his old, cool
assurance; but the cloud of vexation still hung heavy on his brow.
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