He caughther wrist, expecting it to go off, but
nothing happened.
They will burn this House, he said
finally.
He had almost forgotten his anxiety in the wonder
of the scene. She might make light of her danger in her words, but her eyesbetrayed
her. Do you mind if we go backto where we breakfasted, for I left my pipe
there.
Choose which way you please, said the old
man,provided that they die. And she had a swords steel, too, for had she not faced
unknownperil for a scruple?
I want to see what lies beyond itto the
west.
He stripped off his wet clothes, and put on his old
aquascutum tillthey should be dried. There is a rumour in Kynætho of something
else.
Half-way along the causeway a second guard proved
more truculent.
By the slender light, set on a table in the great
stone hall, thetwo men regarded each other.
If any awkwardquestions are asked I propose to be
truculent. I shall know more to-morrow night, but I have learned something.
Otherwise, dont you see, it makes the guilt of my family so
muchheavier.
Mitri found it laid on the threshold of the main
door. It was arranged that Mitrishould go to Kynætho next morning after breakfast
and spend the daythere. I refuse to leave without you, Miss Arabin, he said. He
retained Mitris shoes,for he feared the flints of the hillside.
They have resurrected an old paganrite of
sacrifice.
There will be a race with torches, and he who
winswill be called King.
Half-way along the causeway a second guard proved
more truculent.
You see, you cant refuse myhelp now, for we are in
the same boat. They had been veryexcited and had tried to alarm him with foolish
tales of witches. The signal was to be the firing of the place. I can no more leave
you here than I could leave a drowning child inthe sea.
In the early twilight the yachts dinghy put him
ashore on a lonelybit of coast east of the village.
That made her angryand also uneasy; so did the
curious methodical ways of the siege.
He retained Mitris shoes,for he feared the flints
of the hillside.
He had been carefully prepared by Mitri forhis
part.
He proposed tobe the victor, and so to defeat the
folly.
A madnesshas afflicted this island, and you are the
only sane Christian leftin it.
Perhaps he thought I wouldnt have believed it. I go
beyond the causeway to the olive-yards, he said carelessly,as if he condescended in
answering.
A madnesshas afflicted this island, and you are the
only sane Christian leftin it. If their hope isdisappointed, they will be worse
madmen than before.