"Yes," said the Greek slowly, and with his eyes on the fire, "it is strictly true. I am a baron in my country, as I come of a noble family. But I dropped the title when I came to teach in England. Yes! I told Jasher I was a baron. How did he come to tell you?"
"There was no need for Bocaros to ask this question. Jasher had reported the conversation to him, and had advised him to resume his title if he wished to make an impression on Miss Doon's worldly heart. As a matter of fact Bocaros was really entitled to the title he claimed. He belonged to a decayed family and the title was all that remained. As it was out of keeping in his position, and the man was proud, he never gave any one to understand that he had this rank, and was contented with the appellation of professor. Unused to the ways of women, it had never struck him that the title would be of value in Miss Doon's eyes when it was not gilded with money. But he saw from her looks that she really thought a great deal of it, and mentally thanked Jasher for having supplied him with this bird-lime to lure his fowl.
"How delightful!" said Miss Doon. "And your wife will be a baroness?"
"Oh yes. But where am I to find a wife?"
Emily's eyes told him, but with the ineradicable coquetry of a woman her tongue contradicted her glances. "Good gracious me, baron"--she rolled the sweet morsel on her tongue--"how should I know? Really I wish you would not look at me like that. It's hardly proper for a young lady to call on a foreign nobleman. I believe they are not to be trusted. The noblemen, you know--so gay and dashing they are."
Bocaros laughed a little sadly. "I fear I am anything but that," he said. "Not at all the bridegroom for you."
"Really, professor--I must call you by the dear old name--I hope you are not making a proposal."
"Does it offend you?" asked Bocaros timidly.
"I'm sure I don't know. I have never been proposed to before, as I have always been hard to suit."
"Would I suit you?"