Phroso

t against Constantine; but it may be doubted by a cool mind whether it is worse, nay, whether it is not more venial than to contrive the murder of a lawful wi

it came as an alternative to Constantine's society; but probably his wife would not agree with me, and the conversation I had heard left me in little doubt that her life was not safe. They could not have an epidemic, Vlacho had prudently reminded his master; the island fever could not kill Constantine's wife and our party all in a day or two. Men suspect such an obliging malady, and the old lord had died of it, pat to the happy moment, already. But if the thing could be done, if it could be so managed that London, Paris

which approached it in front there stood sentries at intervals. They were stationed just out of range of our only effective long-distance weapon, but it was evident that egress on that side was barred. And the same was the case on the other; Hogvardt had seen men moving in the wood, and had heard their challenges to one another repeated at reg

efore long. I was alone, for the rest were engaged in various occupations, Hogvardt being particularly busy over a large handful of hunting k

nal dress of the Greek woman; but Euphrosyne's was ornamented with a rare profusion of delicate embroidery, and of so fine a texture that it seemed rather some delicate, soft, yielding silk. The change of attire see

it t

inous conversation and the wild chase of the night before. When I related how Constantine had called Francesca his wife, Euphrosyne s

you weren'

ely, and I was struck by a new beauty which the fantastic boy's disguise had concealed. Moreover, with the doffing of that, she seemed to have put off her extreme hostility; but perhaps the revelation I had made to her, which

they will kill thi

will happen to her, unless, of course-' I pau

lets her live now, becau

s?' I asked. 'I mean, as long

nd with a trou

here?' she sai

now as you were in your

with a movement of her head;

! The island is theirs and mine. It's not y

rdly handsome enough for that, I'm afraid. But mightn't we leave the ques

m to the island, I am at present more interested

d not me if I yielded the island. Indeed they would most likely follow him in any case. For the Neopalians like a man to follow, and th

rbarousness of it perhaps appealed to her a little; she loathed the man who would rule on those terms, but had some toleration for

im, I expect, in spite o

iolently. My English res

ed. 'Why, he murde

tefanopouloi,' said Euphrosyne, with

s to murder his

ch rang in her voice, as in her first cry. It did not sound like love; and for that I was glad. The courtship probably had been an affair of state rather than of affection. I did not ask how Constantine was to be made to pay, whether before or after

ld marry him. I'm going to get him hang

but then she leant

ave you pro

an't get out to procure any more; and we can't go shooting, because t

rosyne, 'that you and your frien

em more likely; but she need not have said so. Sh

will come then to take the tribute; perhaps the Governor will come. But till

e do they land?

we do not let them land. So they come to a little creek at the opposite end of

d reach that creek and find the fishermen and persuade them to help me or t

you can reach t

re that you want m

nt? If I help you I am betray

ur door, and you'll marry the big

ed fretfully at the embroid

each them,' she said. 'You

strolled into the kitchen. Here I found Watkins dressing the cow's head, Hogvardt surrounded by knives, and Denny lying o

Captive Queen say?'

stantine,' I answered, and

ame with thos

s, 'I thought there was no harm in putting an edge on them, in case we s

t construe half of it. It's in Greek, and it's something

The Greek was written in an old-fashioned style; it was verse. I turned to the title page. 'Hullo, this is rather i

dly over it, translating here and there for the benefit of my companions. The arrival of the Baron d'Ezonville recalled our own with curious exactness, except that he came with one servant only. He had been taken to the inn as I had, but he had never escaped from there, and had been turned adrift the morning after his arrival. I took more interest in Stefan, and followed eagerly the story

Bard, it is not known. Yet men say they went beneath the earth, and there in the earth found the lord. And certain it is they slew him, for in a space they came forth to the door, bearing his head; this they showed to the people, who answered with a great shout. But the cousins went back, barring the door again; and again, when but a few minutes had passed, they cam

translating as I went. At t

ought to be,' he remarked. 'What the deuce did t

y went benea

sted Hogvardt, who

is fellow says, they were only away a few minutes, they couldn't have dug a

if they'd told Alexander a bit more about it. Howeve

d so the thing ends.' And I sat looking at the little

between the Iliad and a Life of Byron. Ther

and took the liberty of glancing round; she was not there. I called again, for I thought she might have passed along the way over the hall and reached the roof, as she had before. This time I called loudly. Silence followed for a momen

with this'-and I patted One-Eyed Alexander's book, which

th an air that added, 'I've not

ute ago,' I observed, reaching th

isturbed and

e you been

ent?' said she, trying to cover her co

body of old Stefan. I had a conviction, based on a sudden intuition, that one explanation must lie at the root of both these curious things, that th

e been, if you don't wish to

d in recognition

d like to ask you,' I pursued, 'if

?' She was still

nopoulos killed, and wh

g One-Eyed Alexander's book

y, crying, 'Where

Denny had found

earth" mean? You're one of

l you. We are all bound by the m

told

ld when they are fifteen, the girls whe

is

ps, that her answer itself wo

e oath binds me; and it binds every one

ed left except Const

gh. He woul

you?' I suggested

I broke t

'The thing might help us. Did they bu

not buried,'

and got rid of his body wh

think what

I pull the house down, I'll fi

I put the latter part in a low eag

?' I asked, lean

irresolute, embarr

t may mean life or death to all of

t it perhaps deserved. With a glance of

lives of all

ou all the service I could last night, and now-I and my friends may as well die

. My brain was fired with the thought of stealing a march o

ands. It was over in a minute, and she sat blushing, c

t for?' I asked, sto

' said Eu

t believe t

t mean to do it,' she said

started walking again. But presently I heard a voice say softly, and

ho can be angry, and I bega

eat indignation. I hate being told that I

laugh she had given since I had known her. The mirthfulness of it underm

and I shall pull this house down, or dig it

You are like my father. He would stamp his foot furiously l

It rather pleased me, and I repeated gently after her, 'Phroso, Phro

oso. Oh, I wish he were

it, it's a deal shorter),-by Phroso's elbow-'since he isn't, I'll look

orn,' sa

,' said I, bending till I

's what lovers say when they find anot

rk somehow came home to me with a very remarkable force. I got off t

ast time, if you will tell me the sec

ered manner may well have amazed he

would not. Now you ask me as if you threatened,

; and, the next minute, I became furiously angry with Denny, whom I found standing i

inning at?' I de

, and his face strove to

pickaxe

he as annoying as that?' he seemed to ask.

p, and see if I can find out the great Stefanopoul

e another. Heavens, what did she do that for, when Denny wa

kaxes!'

at her. I took refuge in flight. I rushed into the kitchen, on pretence of aiding or hastening Denny's search.

at me; and I rushed back to the hall. But on the t

laugh, the hall was empty! Phroso was gone! I flung the picka

en I'd never bo

not really