Phroso Part 28

There was nothing to say but one thing, and I said it.

'No more did I, your Excellency,' said I.

But I was not pleased with the expression of Mouraki's eye; the contentment induced in me by the safety of my friends, by my own escape, and by the end of Constantine's ill-used power, was suddenly clouded as I sat and looked at the baffling face and subtle smile of the Governor. What was it to him whether Phroso were a handsome girl or not?

And I suppose I might just as well have added--What was it to me?

CHAPTER XIII

THE SMILES OF MOURAKI PASHA

At the dinner-table Mouraki proved a charming companion. His official reserve and pride vanished; he called me by my name simply, and extorted a like mode of address from my modesty. He professed rapture at meeting a civilised and pleasant companion in such an out-of-the-way place; he postponed the troubles and problems of Neopalia in favour of a profusion of amusing reminiscences and pointed anecdotes. He gave me a delightful evening, and bade me the most cordial of good-nights. I did not know whether his purpose had been to captivate or merely to a.n.a.lyse me; he had gone near to the former, and I did not doubt that he had succeeded entirely in the latter. Well, there was nothing I wanted to conceal--unless it might be something which I was still striving to conceal even from myself.

I rose very early the next morning. The Pasha was not expected to appear for two or three hours, and he had not requested my presence till ten o'clock breakfast. I hastened off to the harbour, boarded the yacht, enjoyed a merry cup of coffee and a glorious bathe with Denny.

Denny was anxious to know my plans--whether I meant to return or to stay. The idea of departure was odious to me. I enlarged on the beauties of the island, but Denny's shrug insinuated a doubt of my candour. I declared that I saw no reason for going, but must be guided by the Pasha.

'Where's the girl?' asked Denny abruptly.

'She's up at the house,' I answered carelessly.

'Hum. Heard anything about Constantine being hanged?'

'Not a word; Mouraki has not touched on business.'

Denny had projected a sail, and was not turned from his purpose by my unwillingness to accompany him. Promising to meet him again in the evening, I took my way back up the street, where a day or two ago my life would have paid for my venturing, where now I was as safe as in Hyde Park. Women gave me civil greetings; the men did the like, or, at worst, ignored me. I saw the soldiers on guard at Constantine's prison, and pursued my path to the house with a complacent smile. My island was beautiful that morning, and the blood flowed merrily in my veins. I thought of Phroso. Where was the remorse which I vainly summoned?

Suddenly I saw Kortes before me, walking along slowly. He was relieved of his duty then, and Constantine was no longer in his hands.

Overtaking him, I began to talk. He listened for a little, and then raised his calm honest eyes to mine.

'And the Lady Phroso?' he said gently. 'What of her?'

I told him what I knew, softening the story of Mouraki's harshness.

'You have not spoken to her yet?' he asked. Then, coming a step nearer, he said, 'She shuns you perhaps?'

'I don't know,' said I, feeling embarra.s.sed under the man's direct gaze.

'It is natural, but it will last only till she has seen you once. I pray you not to linger, my lord. For she suffers shame at having told her love, even though it was to save you. It is hard for a maiden to speak unasked.'

I leaned my back against the rocky bank by the road.

'Lose no time in telling her your love, my lord,' he urged. 'It may be that she guesses, but her shame will trouble her till she hears it from your lips. Seek her, seek her without delay.'

I had forgotten my triumph over Constantine and the beauty of the island. I felt my eyes drop before Kortes's look; but I shrugged my shoulders, saying carelessly:

'It was only a friendly device the Lady Phroso played to save me. She doesn't really love me. It was a trick. But I'll thank her for it heartily; it was of great help to me, and a hard thing for her to do.'

'It was no trick. You know it was none. Wasn't the love in every tone of her voice? Isn't it in every glance of her eyes when she is with you--and most when she won't look at you?'

'How come you to read her looks so well?' I asked.

'From studying them deeply,' said he simply. 'I do not know if I love her, my lord; she is so much above me that my thoughts have not dared to fly to the height. But I would die for her, and I love no other. To me, you, my lord, should be the happiest, proudest man alive. Pray speak to her soon, my lord. My sister, whom you saw hold her in her arms, would have made me sure if I had doubted. The lady murmurs your name in her sleep.'

A sudden irresistible exultation took hold of me. I think it turned my face red, for Kortes smiled, saying, 'Ah, you believe now, my lord!'

'Believe!' I cried. 'No, I don't believe. A thousand times, no! I don't believe!' For I was crus.h.i.+ng that exultation now as a man crushes the foulest temptings.

A puzzled look invaded Kortes's eyes. There was silence between us for some moments.

'It's absurd,' said I, in weak protest. 'She has known me only a few days--only a few hours rather--and there were other things to think of then than love-making.'

'Love,' said he, 'is made most readily when a man does not think of it, and a stout arm serves a suitor better than soft words. You fought against her and for her; you proved yourself a man before her eyes.

Fear not, my lord; she loves you.'

'Fear not!' I exclaimed in a low bitter whisper.

'She said it herself,' continued Kortes. 'As her life, and more.'

'Hold your tongue, man!' I cried fiercely. 'In the devil's name, what has it to do with you?'

A great wonder showed on his face, then a doubting fear; he came closer to me and whispered so low that I hardly heard:

'What ails you? Is it not well that she should love you?'

'Let me alone,' I cried; 'I'll not answer your questions.' Why was the fellow to cross-examine me? Ah, there's the guilty man's old question; he loves a fine mock indignation, and hugs it to his heart.

Kortes drew back a pace and bowed, as though in apology; but there was no apology in the glance he fixed on me. I would not look him in the face. I drew myself up as tall as I could, and put on my haughtiest air. If he could have seen how small I felt inside!

'Enough, Kortes,' said I, with a lordly air. 'No doubt your intentions are good, but you forget what is becoming from you to me.'

He was not awed; and I think he perceived some of the truth--not all; for he said, 'You made her love you; that does not happen unless a man's own acts help it.'

'Do girls never rush uninvited on love, then?' I sneered.

'Some perhaps, but she would not,' he answered steadily.

He said no more. I nodded to him and set forward on my way. He bowed again slightly, and stood still where he was, watching me. I felt his eyes on me after we had parted. I was in a very tumult of discomfort.

The man had humiliated me to the ground. I hoped against hope that he was wrong; and again, in helpless self-contradiction, my heart cried out insisting on its shameful joy because he was right. Right or wrong, wrong or right, what did it matter? Either way now lay misery, either way now lay a struggle that I shrank from and abhorred.

I was somewhat delayed by this interview, and when I arrived at the house I found Mouraki already at breakfast. He apologised for not having awaited my coming, saying, 'I have transacted much business.

Oh, I've not been in bed all the time! And I grew hungry. I have been receiving some reports on the state of the island.'

'It's quiet enough now. Your arrival has had a most calming effect.'