The San Francisco call., 1908-04-12
9oE on VIA CRUCINa "A ROMAN SINGER ETC.

table and poured out wine. and Zoe
began to eat in silence. without paying
any attention to Zeno. That is one
way of showing Indifference. and both
men and women use it. yet IL still re-
mains surprisingly effective
What is the matter with your
Zeno asked suddenly.
Zoe pretended to be surprised and
then smiled coldly.
oh! you mean because I am hun
cry. / suppose. I have been In the
open air. 1t must be that"
She at once took another mouthfuI.
and went on eating.
No" answered zeno. watching her.
Il did not mean that"
She raised her beautiful eyebrows.
just as he had raised his few minutes
earlier, but she said nothing and seemed
very busy with the fish Zeno took an
other piece. swallowed some of 1t de-
lloerately and drank little before he
leaned back in his chair and spoke
again.
Something has happened" he said
at last with great conviction.
"Really?'' Zoe pretended surprised
s interest "What?' she asked with af-
fected eagerness
You understand me perfectly" he
replied with a shade of sternness for
he was growing tired OF her mood.
She glanced at him sideways, as a
tone change suddenly and she Is not
sure what he may do or say next
You do not make 1t easy to under
stand you, my lord" she said, after an
instant's hesitation.
The matter is simple enough. find
you In a bad humor-'
"Oh, no, assure your Zoe broke in.
with woman's diabolical facility in
interrupting a man just at the right
moment for her own advantage. IT was
never in a better temper in my Hfer
To prove this she took a bird and
some salad and smiled sweetIy at the
plate, leaving him to prove his asser-
ton. but he did not fall into the trap.
Then you are not easy TO live with"
he observed bluntly II am glad it is
over"
DO take some Of this salad" sug-
gested Zoe. TT is really delicious
Tomorrow" Zeno said. without pay
Ing any attention to her recommends
tion. i shall have a few guests at din
ner."
Il should advise you to give them
a salad exactly like this" answered
Zoe 1T could not be betterl''
Il am glad you like II. leave the
fare to OmobOno. 1t is about another
matter that have to speak"
lessly. Il know what you are going to
say. Shall / save you the trouble?'
Il do not see how you can guess
what 1t IS
"Oh. easily! You do not wish your
friends TO see me. and you are going
to order me not to look out OF the win
dow when they come. Is that it?''
Yes-more or less Zeno was
surprised.
Yes, that is it," laughed Zoe But
1T is quite useless. sir. I shall most
certainly look out Of the window. un-
less you lock me up in another room:
and as for your doing that. I will yield
only to forcer'
She laughed again. much amused at
the dilemma in which she was placing
him. And indeed. he did not at first
know how to answer her declaration
of independence.
Il cannot imagine why you should
be so anxious to show yourself to peo-
pie you do not know" he said "Or
perhaps you fancy they may be friends
you think that if they recognize you
but that is absurd. i have told you
that if you have friends in the world
you may go to them and you say you
have none"
Zoe's tone changed again and became
girlishly petulant.
1T is nothing but curiosity. OF
courseT' she answered. II want to see
the people you like. Is that unnatural?
In whole month I have never seen
one of your friends
Il have not many. But such as I
have I value. and do not care to let
them get a mistaken impression Of
me OF the way / live"
Especially not the women among
them Zoe added. half interrogatively.
There are none, said ZenO as il to
cut short the suggestion
Il see. You do not want your men
friends to know that there are women
1fxriV1 In mt
are doubtless all grave and elderly per-
sons who would be much shocked and
grfeved TO learn that you have bought
a pretty Greek slave. After all, you
came near being a priest. did you not?
They naturally associate YOU in their
minds with the clergy and, for some
reason or other, you think il lust as
well for you. or your affairs. that they
should. l have always heard that the
Venetians are good men of business
You are probably the only person
alive who would risk saying that to
me-" said Zeno. looking at her.
What do I risk. my lord?" asked Zoe
with sort of submissive gravity
My anger" Zeno answered curtly
Yes, sir; understand. Your anger
but pray. my lord. how will IL show
itself? Shall i be beaten, or put in
chains and starved. or turned out OF
your house and sold at auction? Those
6AS bIC usual PuuASlIlcnlS TOT QlSOOcQt-
ent slaves, are they not?'
Il am not a Greek" said Zeno. an
noyed.
IF you were" answered Zoe. turn
ing her face from him to hide her
smile. you would probably wish to
tear out my tongue,
Perhaps
1T might be a wise precautionr' she
laughed
Zeno looked at her sharply now. for
the words sounded like a threat that
was only half playful. She knew enough
TO compass his destruction at the hands
of Andronicus if she betrayed him. but
he did not believe she would do that.
and he wondered what she was driv-
ing at. for his experience of wOmen's
ways was small.
Listen" he said, dropping his voice
little. II shall not beat you. shall
not starve you, and I shall not sell you.
But if you try TO betray me. I viii kill
YOU
She raised her head proudly and met
his eyes without fear
II would spare you the trouble-if I