Part 17 (2/2)
I turned toward Mrs. Simons, who held out to me the following letter:
”Dear Sister:
Verification made, I have given the 4000. liv. sterl. for the receipt. I have not advanced the other 600, because the receipt was not in your name, and it would be impossible to recover it. I am, while waiting your dear presence,
Always yours, ”Edward Sharper.”
I had overdone my instructions to Hadgi-Stavros; to be quite business-like, he believed that he ought to send two receipts!
Mrs. Simons said to me in a low tone: ”You seem to be in great trouble!
What good will it do to make such faces? Show that you are a man, and leave that grievance for a whipped cur. The best part is done, since we are saved, my daughter and I, without its costing us anything. As for you, I am not uneasy about you; you know how to save yourself. Your first plan, which was not feasible for two ladies, will be an admirable one for you alone. Come, what day may we expect a visit from you?”
I thanked her cordially. She offered such a fine opportunity for me to show off my personal qualities and to raise myself in Mary-Ann's esteem.
”Yes, Madame, count on me! I will leave here a man of spirit, and much better if I run a little danger. I am glad that my ransom has not been paid, and I thank Monsieur, your brother, for what he has done for me.
You will see if a German does not know how to extricate himself from difficulties. Yes, I will soon bring you my own messages!”
”Once out of here, do not fail to present yourself at our hotel.”
”Oh! Madame!”
”And now beg this Stavros to give us an escort of five or six brigands.”
”In G.o.d's name why?”
”To protect us from the gendarmes!”
VI.
THE ESCAPE.
In the midst of our adieux, there came to us a powerful odor of garlic which made me ill. It was the waiting-maid who had come to the ladies, to call upon their generosity. This creature had been more annoying than useful, and since the first two days, the ladies had dispensed with her services. Mrs. Simons regretted, however, not being able to do anything for her, and asked me to inform the King how she had been robbed of her money. Hadgi-Stavros seemed neither surprised nor scandalized. He simply shrugged his shoulders, and muttered: ”That Pericles!--bad education--the city--the court--I ought to attend to that.” He added out loud: ”Beg the ladies to not trouble themselves about anything. It is I who provided the servant and it is I who will pay her. Tell them, that if they need a little money to return to the city, my purse is at their disposal. I will have them escorted to the foot of the mountain, although they will run no kind of danger. The soldiers are less to be feared than one thinks. They will find breakfast, horses and a guide in the village of Castia: everything is provided and everything paid. Do you think that they will give me the pleasure of shaking hands with me, in token of reconciliation?”
Mrs. Simons was very reluctant, but her daughter resolutely held out her hand to the old Palikar. She said to him in English, with roguish pleasantry: ”It is much honor that you do us, very interesting, sir, because at this moment we are the Clephtes, and you are the victim!”
The King replied with much confidence: ”Thank you, Mademoiselle; you are too good!”
Mary-Ann's pretty hand was colored like a piece of rosy satin which had been in a shop-window for three months. Believe, however, that I did not have to beg to kiss it. I then touched my lips to Mrs. Simons' skinny hand. ”Courage! Monsieur,” cried the old lady as she was going away.
Mary-Ann said nothing; but she threw me a glance capable of rousing an army. Such looks are worth a proclamation!
When the last man of the escort had disappeared, Hadgi-Stavros took me to one side and said to me: ”Eh, well! we have then made some mistake!”
”Alas! Yes, we were not clever.”
”This ransom is not paid. Will it be? I believe so. These English women seem to be friendly to you.”
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