“A whole one, Steryio!”
Returning to the middle of the room, he lifted up a trap-door, which disclosed a large, bricked-up cavity, and began shovelling live coals and brands into it from the fire.
Mano opened his cigarette case, and offered it to the chief.
The latter accepted it, and examined its contents critically.
“They are good, Mr Spiropoulo,” he said with condescension, “but I believe you will find mine better.”
From his pocket he drew his own case, and passed it to my brother.
“Excellent!” exclaimed Mano. “I know the brand.”
“They were a present from his Holiness, the Bishop of Xanthy.”
“Do you still give the church five per cent. of your—your revenues?” my brother inquired. “I heard his Holiness mention this devotion of yours to the church.”
Our host laughed pleasantly. “So his Holiness said that, did he?”