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Updated: May 27, 2025
"He will pay it in a year, and give you security meanwhile." "And the condition is that I give up the island?" I asked; and I began to think that perhaps I owed it to my companions to acquiesce in this proposal, however distasteful it might be to me. "Yes," said Vlacho; "and there is one other small condition, which will not trouble you." "And what's that? You're rich in conditions."
And they came and said that a man had landed who claimed our island as his a man of your name, my lord. And when my dear lord said he had sold the island to save the honor of his house and race, they were furious, and Vlacho raised the death chant that One-eyed Alexander the Bard wrote on the death of Stefan Stefanopoulos long ago.
"What have you been doing?" demanded Denny, surlily; he had not enjoyed Euphrosyne's scornful attitude. "I have been running for my life," said I, "from the biggest scoundrels unhanged. Denny, make a guess who lives in that cottage." "Constantine?" "I don't mean him." "Not Vlacho he's at the inn." "No, I don't mean Vlacho." "Who, then, man?" "Some one you've seen." "Oh, I give it up.
As I spoke, Constantine put a whistle to his lips and blew loudly. The blast was followed by the appearance of five more fellows. In three of them I recognized old acquaintances Vlacho, Demetri, and Spiro. These three all carried guns; and the whole eight came forward again, till they were within a hundred yards of us.
Acting up to his part in the ghastly farce which these two ruffians were playing with the wife of one of them, Constantine turned to bestow kisses on the woman before he parted from her. Vlacho, in a mockery that was horrible to me who knew his heart, must needs be facetious.
"I had to swear my life out that no one was here and then, 'If no one's there, why mayn't I come? You know the sort of thing." "Indeed, no, my lord. You wrong me," protested Vlacho, humorously; and Constantine joined in his laugh. "You've made up your mind which, I gather?" asked Vlacho. "Oh, this one, beyond doubt," answered his master.
"I am very sorry for it," said I. "But as he sold the island to me before he died, I don't see what the lady, with all respect to her, has got to do with it. Nor do I know what this rabble is doing about the door. Send them away." This attempt at hauteur was most decidedly thrown away. Vlacho seemed not to hear what I said. He pointed with his finger toward the harbor. "There lies your boat.
"Oh the deuce!" laughed Constantine. "But won't the men want me to free her by letting that infernal crew go?" "Not if they think Wheatley will go to Rhodes and get soldiers and return. They love the island more than her. It will all go well, my lord. And this other here?" I strained my ears to listen. No answer came; yet Vlacho went on as though he had received an answer.
For me, she might stay there as long as she likes, for I care for her just as little as, between ourselves, I believe she cares for me." Really, this fellow was a very tidy villain; as a pair, Vlacho and he would be hard to beat in England, at all events. About Neopalia I had learned to reserve my opinion. Such were my reflections as I turned to resume my interrupted crawl to safety.
At any rate the sound of his pursuing feet died away and ceased. I suppose he went back to look after Vlacho and show himself safe and sound to that most unhappy woman, his wife. As for me, when I found myself safe and sound in the compound, I said, "Thank God!" And I meant it, too. Then I looked round. Certainly the sight that met my eyes had a touch of comedy in it.
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