“You can speak to me in the presence of these gentlemen,” retorted the old man coolly; “they know all my secrets.”
“All?” said Caliphronas in a meaning tone.
“As far as you are concerned—yes!”
“Beware, Justinian!” cried the Count in Greek, whereupon the Demarch ruthlessly interrupted him.
“You had better speak English. I prefer it.”
This was quite the dictatorial Demarch of old, strangely unlike the yielding Justinian of the last few weeks, so Caliphronas, feeling more and more uneasy, burst out into a torrent of rapid English.
“What do you mean? Why do you talk like this? Have you forgotten your promise to me?”
“What promise?”
“Your promise that I should marry Helena!”
“Oh yes, yes! I remember something about that. Well, have you asked her to marry you?”