“Surely his gratitude ought to last while we are here,” said Danaë, with an irrepressible yawn. “And when I am at Klaustra, he can’t do anything to me there.”
“Klaustra! I had forgotten all about it.”
“But you spoke about it only last night. Besides, you promised!”
“I hadn’t spent a whole day without you then. Oh, you shall go if you wish, but I shall go too. I can’t spare you.”
“I am so sleepy!” murmured Danaë irrelevantly. But her head nestled down against his shoulder, and she fell asleep crouching beside him.
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE FAIR PRIZE WON.
“Hail, lady!” Wylie rode up to Danaë and saluted, as she sat on her horse, the picture of hopeless bewilderment, in the midst of a clamorous crowd.
“Oh, how glad I am that you have come, lord!” she cried. “These people say that certain Roumis dwelling among them are responsible for all yesterday’s rioting, and they have broken into their houses and dragged them out. The police have no evidence against them, but I am afraid to send them home lest they should be killed.”
“Case of police protection, evidently,” said Wylie. “You want me to settle it?” Receiving an eager affirmative, he spoke in Roumi to the unfortunate Moslems, who were held by many hands, then scolded their assailants roundly, and remarked that it would be well for everything stolen from the looted houses to be back in its place when he arrived there in a few minutes to settle the lawful owners in their homes again under a police guard to protect them. Meeting Danaë’s grateful eyes, he laughed.
“I didn’t intend to take your work out of your hands in this way,” he said; “but Panagiotis seemed to think you would be glad to be relieved at once. I have not seen your brother, but he sent polite messages, and an order putting me in charge of the city and the troops.”