'Is that so, Eve? Is he here by appointment with you to-day?'
'No.'
'I shall go down to him and find out whether you are speaking the truth.'
He went downstairs, ignoring Eve's voice that called him back. The Premier was in the drawing-room, examining the insignificant ornaments on the table. Their last meeting had been a memorable one, in the painted room overlooking the platia.
When their greetings were over, Julian said,—
'I believe you were asking for my cousin, sir?'
'That is so. She promised me,' said the Premier, a sly look coming over his face, 'that she would give me tea to-day. Shall I have the pleasure of seeing her?'
'What,' thought Julian, 'does this old scapegrace politician, who must have his mind and his days full of the coming elections, want with Eve? and want so badly that he can perform the feat of coming out here from Herakleion in the heat of the afternoon?'
Aloud he said, grimly because of the lie she had told him,—