"Not quite it," he said; and then wandering right away from the subject, "I wish I'd known you were in New York. You didn't work under your own name there." "That's so. I used to sign just 'Louis.'" "Will you draw me a picture of Maryska--for my house? A thousand dollars now and another thousand when it's delivered?" Louis drew back a little. "Why the girl?" "You must know why. There couldn't be a better subject." "Yes; but if I do not choose to do it, what then?" "Why, then I'm beaten." He threw away the stump of his cigarette and took another. Presently Maryska returned with the flask of white wine and the glasses were chinked. The child drank a draught which would have put a vintner to shame. Then she showed her pretty teeth. "Oh, how good!" she said, and then with a heavenly sigh, "_Ecco c'e vuoto_." "Think you could do another?" Faber asked Louis. The reply was quite stately. "Sir, I am at your disposition." Maryska went off with five crowns this time. When she was gone, her father thawed a little. "Have you seen much of this place?" "Just as much as the harbour showed me." "Staying here long?" "Why, as to that--why stay?" Paleologue knocked the ashes off his cigarette with magnificent dignity. "You make guns; why not see some of them go off?" "Do you suggest fighting?" "That's so. I'm going up to Podgorica in three days' time, afterwards on to the frontier. There'll be riot, rape and pillage. Like to come along?" Faber was a little nonplussed. "Do you go alone?" he asked. "The girl and I, certainly. We can talk business on the road. Why not?" "Oh, I'll come! Here's the wine, I see. She's a wonder that girl of yours." Louis assented. "Her bringing up; she has forgotten how to read and write. It is education which is the matter nowadays. I believe the Greeks knew women. Come here, wild cat, and tell the stranger you can't read or write." Maryska reddened at this and cried "Beast!" with real anger. She sulked for quite a long time, hiding in the dark corner where only her glowing eyes could be seen. Louis took no notice of her tantrums; he had begun to be rather interested in the stranger. "Say, you know the fighting may be a bit lively. I'm bound for Ranovica--want to see it burned. There was a man here yesterday from the London illustrated papers. He's out for fancy pictures and put me on. He's mighty anxious after the rape and pillage. I guess we'll see something of that at Ranovica." Faber looked at the girl; she did not seem to be listening. "Aren't you imprudent? Isn't it better to leave your daughter here?" he asked in a low voice. Louis did not understand him. "Where I go, she goes. Besides, they know me very well, these people. You are not afraid, mister?" "Afraid! How do we go?" "Steamer to Antivari." "I'll take you on my yacht." Louis expressed no surprise. If his guest had promised a warship with golden plates his sphinx-like attitude would have been unchanged.