'It is so far,' she answered with a vague smile.

'It's a beastly hole,' observed the soldier. 'I was there when that row

was going on.' 'The discoveries have all been made since then,' answered the

archæologist, who could think of nothing else. 'You have no idea what

those paintings are,' he continued, talking to the table. 'I have been

there several weeks and I'm going back next month. Logotheti is going

to take a party of us in his big yacht.' 'Who is Logotheti?' inquired Margaret, with great calm.

'A financier,' put in Lushington.

'A millionaire,' said the artist. 'I have painted his portrait.' 'He seems to be interested in discoveries,' Margaret said to the

archæologist. 'I suppose you know him very well?' 'Oh yes! He is a most interesting person, a Greek of Constantinople by

birth, but a real Greek at heart, who knows his own literature, and

loves his country, and spends immense sums in helping archæology. He

really cares for nothing but art! Finance amuses him now and then for a

while, and he has been tremendously lucky. They consider him one of the

important men in the money market, don't they?' The question was directed to the French artist.

'Certainly they do!' replied the latter, with alacrity. 'I have painted

his portrait.' 'I should like to know him,' said Mrs. Rushmore.

'He is quite delightful,' the woman of the world chimed in. 'Quite the

most amusing man I know!' 'You know him, too?' Mrs. Rushmore asked.

'Everybody knows Logotheti!' answered the other.

'You must really bring him,' said Mrs. Rushmore, in a general way, to

everybody.

'I am sure he will be enchanted!' cried the archæologist. 'I am dining

with him to-night, and if you will allow me I'll bring him to-morrow

afternoon.' 'You seem very sure that he will come,' Margaret said.

'But why should he not? Every one is glad to come to Mrs. Rushmore's

house.' This was an unanswerable form of complimentary argument. Margaret

reflected on that strange law by which, when we have just heard for the

first time of a fact or a person, we are sure to come across it, or

him, again, within the next twenty-four hours. She did not believe that

Logotheti could be found at short notice and introduced to new

acquaintances so easily as the young scholar seemed to think; but she

made up her mind, if he came at all, that she would prevent him from

talking about their meeting at Madame Bonanni's, which she wished to

avoid mentioning for the present. That would be easy enough, for a man

of his tact would understand the slightest sign, and behave as if he

had not met her before.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024