nd blustering
invitations to join mysterious fraternities which no one seemed to
understand or explain. Mr. Dainopoulos must not be censured for
withdrawing from all this. He made no claims upon western civilization,
and its lack of logic and continuity led him to prefer something less
virtuous, perhaps, but also less of a strain upon normal human nature.

"You say you don't want to go to America. And I'll say it, too. I've
been there, and that was enough for me. I should die there, with the
food they give you. It's a fine country, with fine trees in the
streets," he added, thinking of an imperial horse-chestnut tree which
had thrust a branch bearing pale candles of bloom against his window out
there, "and the big men are good men to do business. But not for me.
Dirty wood houses and soot coming down all the time on the bed. Like
ashes from the engines."

"Like London," said Alice, smiling.

But Mr. Dainopoulos had been living on a somewhat higher scale in London
and he had not noticed the dirt so much. Moreover, he could always get
the food he wanted in London.

"Well, where?" insisted Alice, humouring him.

"There's plenty places," he said soberly, rather faint as he compared
their present surroundings with that dream-villa by the blue sea. "Too
soon yet to be sure we get there. I got a lot of business to finish up
first. And we're all right here for a while. You're not lonesome,
darling?"

"Oh, no! You saw Evanthia here to-night?"

"Yes, I saw her, but she didn't tell me anything."

"He's gone away, with the consuls."

Mr. Dainopoulos gave a low whistle.

"I never thought about that. What'll she do now? That's bad for her,
though."

"She wants to follow him but I don't think she can. I believe she heard
he'll go to Constantinople. She said she'd do anything to get there."

"Well, if she wants to go to Constantinople, she might be able to," he
said, pondering. "I heard to-day a ship might be going down to the
Islands. There's always a chance. I'll see. But if she's got any sense
she'll go back to her mother. That feller Lietherthal is good company
but he'll go back to Munich by-and-by."

"She doesn't love him, I am almost sure."

"Evanthia, she don't love anybody except herself. I told you that."

"She loves me," said Alice.

"Well, p'raps she does, but you know what I mean."

"That gentleman this evening, Mr. Spokesly, he was interested in her."

"He's got a young lady in London," said Mr. Dain