Mouraki laughed in quiet enjoyment of my excitement.
‘Then Kortes?’ he suggested.
‘He’s infinitely her inferior. Besides—forgive me—why is it your concern to marry her to any one?’
‘In a single state she is evidently a danger to the peace of the island,’ he answered with assumed gravity. ‘Now your young friend—’
‘Oh, Denny’s a boy.’
‘You reject everyone,’ he said pathetically, and his eyes dwelt on me in amused scrutiny.
‘Your suggestions, my dear Pasha, seem hardly serious,’ said I in a huff. He was too many for me, and I struggled in vain against betraying my ruffled temper.
‘Well then, I will make two serious suggestions; that is a handsome amende. And for the first—yourself!’
I waved my hand and gave an embarrassed laugh.