‘I don’t give up what I have resolved upon,’ said he. ‘You describe my own temper to a nicety,’ said I. ‘Now I have resolved to marry Phroso.’ ‘No,’ said Mouraki. I greeted the word with a scornful shrug. ‘You understand?’ he continued. ‘It shall not be.’ ‘We shall see,’ said I. ‘You don’t know the risk you’re running.’ ‘Come, come, isn’t this rather near boasting?’ I asked contemptuously. ‘Your Excellency is a great man, no doubt, but you can’t afford to carry out these dark designs against a man of my position.’ Then I changed to a more friendly tone, saying, ‘My dear Pasha, had you defeated me I should have taken it quietly. Won’t you best consult your dignity by doing the same?’ A long silence followed. I watched his face. Very gradually his brow cleared, his lips relaxed into a smile. He, in his turn, shrugged his shoulders. He took a step towards me; he held out his hand. ‘Wheatley,’ said he, ‘it is true, I am a fool. A man is a fool in such matters. You must make allowances for me. I was honestly in love with her. I thought myself safe from you. I allowed my temper to get the better of me. Will you shake hands?’ ‘Ah, now you’re like yourself, my dear friend,’ said I, grasping his hand. ‘We’ll speak again about it to-morrow. But my anger is over. Fear nothing. I will be reasonable.’ I murmured grateful thanks and appreciation of his generosity. ‘Good-night, good-night,’ said he. ‘I wish I hadn’t found you to-night. I should not have lost my composure like this at any other time. You’re sure you forgive my hasty words?’ ‘From the bottom of my heart,’ said I earnestly; and we pressed one another’s hands. Mouraki passed on to the stairs and began to mount them slowly. He turned his head over his shoulders and said: ‘How will you settle with Miss Hipgrave?’ ‘I must beg her forgiveness, as I must yours,’ said I. ‘I hope you’ll be equally successful,’ said he, and his smile was in working order by now. It was the last I saw of him as he disappeared up the stairs. ‘Now,’ said I, sitting down, ‘he’s gone to think how he can get my throat cut without a scandal.’ In fact, Mouraki and I were beginning to understand one another. CHAPTER XV A STRANGE ESCAPE Yes, Mouraki was dangerous, very dangerous: now that he had regained his self-control, most dangerous. His designs against me would be limited only by the bounds which I had taken the opportunity of recalling to his mind. I was a known man. I could not disappear without excuse. But the fever of the island might be at the disposal of the Governor no less than of Constantine Stefanopoulos. I must avoid the infection. I congratulated myself that the best antidote I had yet found--a revolver and cartridges--was again in my possession. These, and open eyes, were the treatment for the sudden fatal disease that threatened inconvenient lives in Neopalia.