He seemed influenced by my remonstrances, but he denied the suggestion I made.
‘I don’t seek his life,’ he said sullenly. ‘If we were strong enough to fight openly—well, I say nothing of that. He killed my brother, my lord.’
‘I killed a brother of yours too, Demetri.’
‘Yes, in honest fighting, when he sought to kill you. You didn’t half kill him with the lash, before his mother’s eyes, and finish the work with a rope.’
‘Mouraki did?’
‘Yes, my lord. But it is nothing, my lord. I mean no harm.’
‘Look here, Demetri. I don’t love Mouraki myself, and you did me a good turn a little while ago; but if I find you hanging about here again with your gun and your knife I’ll tell Mouraki, as sure as I’m alive. Where I come from we don’t assassinate. Do you see?’
‘I hear, my lord. Indeed I had no such purpose.’
‘You know your purpose best; and now you know what I shall do. Come, be off with you, and don’t shew yourself here again.’