"Certainly."
"Well, you see this is both love and war. I have possession of Panayota, and I mean to treat her so well that she shall love me. Not a hair of her head shall be touched until she marries me of her own free will."
"But your wives?" asked Curtis. "How many have you of them?"
The Captain shrugged his shoulders.
"Three," he replied. "Dumpy, silly creatures. A Mohammedan has not much difficulty in getting rid of his wives."
Curtis arose.
"If you will help me to the house," he said, "I will try to get a little sleep."
Kostakes sprang to his feet.
"Lean on my shoulder," he said. "So, so, how is the leg?"
"Bad, very bad. I'm really worried about it. Do I bear down on you too heavily?"