Denny ceased to pray my company; I was not to be moved from the neighbourhood of the house. I waited, the Pasha waited; he paved his way, I lay in ambush by it; he was bent on conquering Phroso, I had no design, only a passionate resolve that he should try a fall with me first. There came a dark stormy evening, when the clouds sent down a thick close rain and the wind blew in mournful gusts. Having escaped from Mouraki’s talk, I had watched him go upstairs, and myself had come out to pace again my useless beat. I strayed a few hundred yards from the house, and turned to look at the light in the Governor’s window. It shone bright and steady, seeming to typify his relentless unvarying purpose. A sudden oath escaped from the weary sickness of my heart; there came an unlooked-for answer at my elbow. ‘He acts, you talk, my lord. He works, you are content to curse him. Which will win?’ said a grave voice; and Kortes’s handsome figure was dimly visible in the darkness. ‘He works, she weeps, you curse. Who will win?’ he asked again, folding his arms. ‘Your question carries its own answer, doesn’t it?’ I retorted angrily. ‘Yes, if I have put it right,’ said he; there was a touch of scorn in his voice that I did not care to hear. ‘Yes, it carries its own answer, if you are content to leave it as I stated it.’ ‘Content! Good God!’ He drew nearer to me and whispered: ‘This morning he told her his purpose; this evening again--yes, now, while we talk--he is forcing it on her. And what help has she?’ ‘She won’t let me help her; she won’t let me see her.’ ‘How can you help her, you who do nothing but curse?’ ‘Look here, Kortes,’ said I, ‘I know all that. I’m a fool and a worm and everything else you like to intimate; but your contempt doesn’t seem much more practical than my cursing. What’s in your mind?’ ‘You must keep faith with this lady in your own land?’ ‘You know of her?’ ‘My sister has told me--she who waits on the Lady Euphrosyne.’ ‘Ah! Yes, I must keep faith with her.’ ‘And with Mouraki?’ he asked. My mind travelled with his. I caught him eagerly by the arm. I had his idea in a moment. ‘Why that?’ I asked. ‘Yes, Kortes, why that?’ ‘I thought you were so scrupulous, my lord.’ ‘I have no scruples in deceiving this Mouraki.’ ‘That’s better, my lord,’ he answered with a grim smile. ‘By heavens, I thought we were to dance together at the wedding!’ ‘The wedding?’ I cried. ‘I think not. Kortes, do you mean--?’ I made a gesture that indicated some violence to Mouraki; but I added, ‘It must be open fight though.’ ‘You mustn’t touch a hair of his head. The island would answer bitterly for that.’ We stood in silence for a moment. Then I gave a short laugh. ‘My character is my own,’ said I. ‘I may blacken it if I like.’ ‘It is only in the eyes of Mouraki Pasha,’ said Kortes with a smile. ‘But will she understand? There must be no more--’ ‘She will understand. You shall see her.’ ‘You can contrive that?’