“I see,” said Danaë. “Far be it from me to destroy your confidence in the Lord Romanos.”
“Lady, I am not one to tempt my lord to break his promise. When I quit this place with the little lord, you will not find me going straight to Therma. I shall leave the Lord Janni in a safe place, while I go forward and acquaint my lord of his recovery. I know a wise man—a lawyer whose father was a priest—and he has drawn me up a paper for the Lord Romanos to sign, calling down upon himself if he breaks his promise such curses as no man living would dare to face.”
Danaë’s attention had wandered. “Friend Petros” she said quickly, “how can the little lord save his father from ruin?”
“I cannot tell, my lady. It seemed to me that perhaps the old man, the Lady’s father, desired to have the child and bring him up. Then he would promise to leave my lord undisturbed, and keep the story secret, taking the Lord Janni away with him, so that it might never be known whose son he was.”
“If that is it——” she paused a moment. “You must have him, Petros, if it is to save his father, but I shall come too.”
The reply was not flattering. “Holy George! you will ruin everything, my lady. Why should you come?”
“Because I cannot stay here without him. The grandfather will only know that I am his nurse, and I shall beg him on my knees to take me with him. Then I can bring up the little lord in the right ways, as befits the son of John Theophanis. If he will not take me, perhaps I can manage to follow them somehow, and if not, I can but go back to Strio. That would be better than staying here and telling fresh lies——”
“It is for you to command, my lady, but I knew not you loved the island-life so much.”
“It is not for you to judge my doings. See, friend Petros,” desperation made her conciliatory, “you will be glad to have me to take care of the little lord on the journey and when you leave him. And I can support you, as you said, if it is necessary to swear that you had no part in the Lady’s death.”
“That’s true,” said Petros doubtfully; “but I meant to take the child under my arm and ride the first stage to-night. Now I shall have to see about another pony or a mule, and it’s too late to do anything. I shall have to waste another bottle of good raki on that beauty Logofet, too, to get him to let you pass to-morrow evening. But it’s quite likely I shall bring in the Lord Janni in better condition with you than without you, so I’ll make the arrangements, and send you word by Logofet where to meet me. But mind, my lady, no playing me false, or you will be sorry you tried it.”