“That I question,” retorted Justinian, with a flash of his keen eyes. “I will tell you or not entirely at my own pleasure; but the tone you adopt will not make me answer your questions. The storm cannot bend the oak, but the gentlest breeze will make its branches quiver. Lay that parable to heart in your demeanor towards me, Crispin, and all will yet be well; otherwise—well, you know how you left last time.” The young man made no reply, but relapsed into moody silence, whereupon Justinian turned to Maurice with a winning smile. “You must bring this obstinate boy to reason, Mr. Roylands. Believe me, it is as well we should be all firm friends and allies, as I have reason to believe there will be trouble.” “From Caliphronas?” “Exactly. He has made a demand of me which I refuse to grant.” “About Helena?” said Crispin, suddenly looking up. “Yes; did he tell you?” “He said you had made him a promise to give him Helena for his wife, if he carried out your plans.” “That’s a lie!” cried Justinian impetuously. “I said he could pay his addresses to Helena, but the question of marriage I left entirely in her own hands.” “Oh,” said Crispin quickly, “that puts quite a different face on the affair.” “At all events, Helena will never marry him,” said Maurice abruptly, whereon the King turned on him in surprise. “What do you know of Helena?” “Only this,” replied Maurice, handing the portrait of the girl to her father. “Caliphronas showed me that face, and I fell in love with it.” “Oh, you fell in love with it!” remarked Justinian in a tone of satisfaction. “Yes; in fact, it was that which brought me to Melnos.” Justinian smiled in a satisfied way, but suddenly frowned. “So Andros dared to use this as a lure!” he muttered in Greek; “well, he has succeeded to his own undoing.” “I thought you would think so,” said Crispin, who overheard the speech; “as soon as I heard the reason of Andros’ coming to Roylands, I guessed your intention.” “How could you do that?” asked the old man quickly; “you knew nothing.” “I know all—Andros told me.” “Traitor!” said Justinian fiercely. “Well, Crispin, if you do know, keep your own counsel until such time as I choose to tell my own story.” “I promise you.” “And in return I will, at my own convenience, tell you what you desire to know about your parentage.” “Do this,” cried Crispin, springing up and clasping Justinian by the hand, “and I will be your friend for life!” “You had better be my friend for your own sake,” retorted the King angrily; “united we stand, divided we fall. Remember, Andros is your and my enemy.” “And Alcibiades?” “Alcibiades would like nothing better than an excuse to plunder Melnos. However, we are nine Englishmen, not counting my Greeks, and I think with all we will be a match for Andros, Alcibiades, and their brother blackguards.”