'How soft your hand is. It is quite boneless,' he said, crushing it together; 'it's like a little pigeon. So you think Herakleion will beat me? I dare say you are right. Shall I tell you something? When I was on my way here, from England, I determined that I would allow myself to be beaten. I don't know why I had that moment of revolt just now. Because I am quite determined to let myself drift with the current, whether it carry me towards adventures or towards lotus-land.' 'Perhaps towards both.' 'Isn't that too much to hope?' 'Why? They are compatible. C'est le sort de la jeunesse.' 'Prophesy adventures for me!' 'My dear Julian! I'm far too lazy.' 'Lotus-land, then?' 'This room isn't a bad substitute,' she proffered. He wondered then at the exact extent of her meaning. He was accustomed to the amazing emotional scenes she had periodically created between them in childhood--scenes which he never afterwards could rehearse to himself; scenes whose fabric he never could dissect, because it was more fantastic, more unreal, than gossamer; scenes in which storm, anger, and heroics had figured; scenes from which he had emerged worried, shattered, usually with the ardent impress of her lips on his, and brimming with self-reproach. A calm existence was not for her; she would neither understand nor tolerate it. The door opened, and old Nana came shuffling in. 'Mith Eve, pleath, there'th a gentleman downstairth to thee you. Here'th hith card.' Julian took it. 'Eve, it's Malteios.' That drowsy voice, indifferent and melodious,-- 'Tell him to go away, Nana; tell him I am resting.' 'But, dearie, what'll your mother thay?' 'Tell him to go away, Nana.' 'He'th the Prime Minithter,' Nana began doubtfully. 'Eve!' Julian said in indignation. 'But, Mith Eve, you know he came latht week and you forgot he wath coming and you wath out.' '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,-- 'She will be with you in a few moments, sir.'