Mitsos laughed, but paused a moment as Michael made the circuit of him, sniffing suspiciously.
"This is what I never entirely enjoy," he said, standing still. "Now no man can go sniffing round my bones and have a sound head on his shoulders. But there is less sport, so I take it, in fighting a dog. Ah, he is satisfied, is he? That is for the good. But where is fishy Anastasi?"
"He went to the market with Constantine Kanaris to buy provisions."
"Is Constantine Kanaris here?" asked the boy. "No, I know him not; but Nikolas Vidalis, the best man God ever made, and my uncle, knew him for a fine man. But why, if Kanaris is here she is here, for he serves with her."
"She! Who?"
"Who but the Capsina? I would give gold money to see her. Why—" Mitsos stopped short, and Sophia laughed.
"Thus there is double pleasure," she said, "for I, too, have often wished to see the boy of whom the people sing. Yes, I am the Capsina; why not?"
Mitsos's big eyes grew round and wide.
"What must you have thought of me?" he said. "But indeed I did not know—" and he bent down from his great height and would have kissed the hand she held out to him.
"Not so!" she cried, laughing; "they of Maina and we are equal."