“What a lovely young woman,” Agiropoulos exclaimed, as he stood with his back to the stage, and leisurely surveyed the occupants of the boxes.
“Beside the Royal Box. She is with the gallant and fiery member for Tenos.” Agiropoulos broke into laughter, and began to quote Constantine at the Odeon. “‘I’ll mangle him, murder him, riddle him with shots,’ and when it came to the point he had as much courage as a draggled hen.”
Rudolph smiled faintly. He had heard the story before, and Agiropoulos’s excessive spirits bored him. He turned round and looked straight up at the Selaka group. He saw Inarime at once, wearing an intense, almost tragic expression, as if the curtain had just gone down upon her own first love-scene; some moments elapsed before he removed his eyes from her.
Constantine went away in search of an ice for his niece, and a little distraction for himself in shape of gossip and a cigarette. He knocked against Oïdas, and the rival politicians stopped to shake hands.
“Is that your niece you have with you?” the Mayor asked.
“Yes. She and Pericles are staying in town now.”
“A very fine girl--I may say, a very beautiful one. Has your brother any views with regard to her?”
“Matrimonial?” queried Constantine, laughing.
“Those, I think, are the only views fathers are supposed to entertain about their daughters,” retorted Oïdas, with awkward, averted glance.
“Oh, of course. He naturally cherishes the hope to dispose of her some day with entire satisfaction to her and to himself.”
Constantine faced his interrogator boldly, narrowed his eyelids to a sly, meditative slit, and answered:--
“You think of offering yourself, perhaps.”
“I should certainly have no objection to a beautiful young wife. She has a dowry, I presume.”
“I presume so,” said Selaka, shutting up his lips in a portentous way. “But there is something else to be considered besides your willingness.”
“Undoubtedly. Still, it is a sufficiently important point. That is why I mention it.”
Constantine understood perfectly well that such wealth as Oïdas’ entitled its owner to his confident air. No sane father would be likely to reject or hesitate before such an offer as this, and the girl would, of course, be guided by her father.