“Yes. Andros will do as he says, and bring Alcibiades here with his band of scoundrels. Well,” added the Demarch, with a grim smile, “they will get a rather warm reception when they do come. The Roylands are a fighting family.”
“Ah, now I understand how you made that allusion before,” said Maurice quickly; “and now I come to think of it, what with the many hints you dropped, I must have been blind not to guess the truth.”
“When a man has been numbered with the dead forty years, it is hard to believe that he is alive,” said the Demarch philosophically.
“You must have had a strange life, uncle.”
“Very,” replied Justinian, gratified by the title. “To-night, when Helena has retired to bed, I will tell you all my adventures since leaving the Grange.”
“Does Helena know I am her cousin?”
“She knows nothing beyond the fact that I am Demarch of Melnos. No, my son, you have wooed and won your bride entirely on your merits, so now you can understand how delighted[delighted] I am at the prospect of this marriage, which will blend both the elder and younger branch of the family in one common line.”
“Can I tell Helena?”
“Certainly, whenever you please.”
“Here is Helena now,” said Crispin, as the girl, looking rather pale, entered the court. “Come here, sister Helena; Maurice has something to tell you.”