"Go away," she said, "for your souls' sakes! Do you not see that you are frightening the poor thing to death?"
"Perhaps she doesn't think I am beautiful," said the Face, with a laugh. "I had come to ask her to marry me."
"Are you Christians or Turks?" asked Aglaia, remembering that nearly all the members of the colony were Greeks.
"Go away and come at another time. In God's name, go away!"
She could not shut the door, as two or three of the lepers had crowded into the opening.
"Doesn't like our looks, eh?" said another. "Never mind, brothers; she'll look like the rest of us soon enough—and you, too, for that matter, Madam Aglaia. There's nothing in the world like leprosy as a cure for pride."
Thanks to Panayota's sobs, she did not hear the remark, but Aglaia did, and felt all of its cruel force. She could make no reply, except:
"True, true. God have mercy!" Thus she stood, helpless, when of a sudden the hideous faces were all turned away from the door together.
"Silence!" cried one of the lepers, for a military quickstep could be heard in the distance.
"Allah be praised!" said one of the Turks. "It is the Sultan's army going forth to conquer the island."