"You young cub," he said, below his breath, "what business is it of yours?"
Christos looked from one to the other.
"He has promised me fifty pounds," he said.
"O fool!" said Mitsos, "there will be a fight between you and me that will cost you the best part of a hundred in blood and bruises, if you don't listen to me. Besides, I don't want to get you into trouble."
Poniropoulos looked thunder at the boy, but inwardly he was disquieted.
"Go to your kennel, you cub," he said, "or I report you to-morrow morning for insubordination."
Mitsos gave a short laugh.
"Very good," he said, "that shall be to-morrow, and it is yet to-night. Look you, Christos, there will be trouble if you do not listen to me. That is all."
He turned back to his hut in order to give Poniropoulos time to be off and leave the coast clear, for he wished to get to Nicholas without making a disturbance in the camp, and, shutting the door, waited for five minutes till he heard Poniropoulos walk off one way and Christos continue his rounds. Then going out again he went straight to Nicholas's quarters and knocked at the door.
Nicholas was asleep, but awakened at once at the sound, and called out to know who was there.