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 From Mano's face I knew that he was troubled, therefore I refrained from being impertinent in answer to our host's impertinence about my accent. The latter went on lazily:

"We were sorry to miss you before. We fully intended offering you our hospitality then—only you changed your plans so suddenly, and arrived a week before you had intended to. I am glad we were fortunate enough to secure you this time. One pines for social intercourse in the mountains."

The leader's Greek was excellent. It was easy to see that he must have been well born, or at least well educated. He stretched himself on a sheep-skin near, and called to the cook:

"A whole one, boys!" Then, turning to us: "No one will be able to say that we did not kill the fatted lamb for you."

The cook, squatting by the fire, rose, walked over to an opening at one side of the cave, and called:

"A whole one, Steryio!"

Returning to the middle of the room, he lifted up a trap-door, which disclosed a large, bricked-up cavity, and began shovelling live coals and brands into it from the fire.

Mano opened his cigarette case, and offered it to the chief.

The latter accepted it, and examined its contents critically.

"They are good, Mr Spiropoulo," he said with