“If it be difficult how should I know it?” answered the head servant. “Do poor folk have time to go beyond the municipal classes at school?”
“Does he know?” and Aleko with a backward jerk of his thumb indicated another servant, stout and gray-haired, standing within the portal of the hotel.
“He! He can scarcely read the newspaper!”
“Do you not go to the Parnassos School every night?”
“Of course I go.”
“Well, ask your schoolmaster.”
“Oh, he has no time; we are many boys. You see I thought as you stand here so often doing nothing, if you knew you would have time to tell me.”
The man scowled.
“Enough words! There are your ten lepta. Go about your business and leave me to mine.”