He glanced quietly at the lady. "Rather a heavy one," he said.
"Anyhow come and talk to us and be civil to her. Imagine she's the Vicar's wife come to call."
Jaffery's elementary sense of humour was tickled and he broke out into a loud guffaw that sent the house cat, a delicate mendicant for food, scuttling across the lawn. The sight of the terror-stricken animal aroused the rest of the party to harmless mirth.
"Tell me, Mrs. Prescott," said Adrian, "was he allowed to do that in Albania?"
"I guess there aren't many things Jaff Chayne can't do in Albania," replied Liosha. "He has the bessas that carry him through and he's as brave as a lion."
"I suppose you like brave men?" said Doria.
"A woman who married a coward would be a damn fool—especially in Albania. I guess there aren't many in my mountains."
"I wish you would tell us about your mountains," said Barbara pleasantly.
"And at the same time," said I, "Jaff might let us hear his story. That is to say if you have no objection, Mrs. Prescott."
"With us," said Liosha, "the guest is expected to talk about himself; for if he's a guest he's one of the family."