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Sarah frowned, and stood there undecided. What could the girl want with
her? Marko spoke again, saying he had shown Elena into the sitting-room.
'Very well, I'll see her,' decided Sarah resignedly. And as she walked
towards the house her curiosity began to be aroused. What could the girl
want with her? she asked herself again. A car stood at the side of the house,
close to the open door of the garage where Charon kept his car. It was large
and fairly new. If Elena was alone, then she had driven the car herself.
The Greek girl, beautifully dressed and coiffured, was standing with her
back to the window; she merely turned her head slightly as Sarah entered,
her dark eyes narrowed, her mouth twisted in a sneer. She was very different
from the quiet, almost subdued girl who had accompanied Charon's
grandmother that first day. Confidence flowed from her, and no sooner had
Sarah entered than she spoke, saying she had come because she knew that
Charon was out.
'I heard he had gone to the village,' she added, and Sarah wondered if one of
the men outside had acted as a spy for her. What intrigue! It was like living
in a city of gangsters!
'You want to see me about something? Perhaps Charon's grandmother sent
you?' Sarah spoke in English and the girl paused a moment, mentally
phrasing her answer.
'I come on my own. I think you are not married for so long as one whole
week.'
Although her nerves tensed instantly Sarah remained outwardly in full
command of herself. She said coolly and with that arrogance of which her
father had so often spoken,
'And what has given you an idea like that?'
'You were abducted by Charon. It is not not believable that you marry
him by yourself--'
She stopped and frowned in concentration. Sarah could have helped her, but
she decided not to do so. 'I think you not willing to marry Charon?' A
question; Sarah made no attempt to answer it and the girl continued, 'It is my
thought that he make you marry him because it saves your life from those
men who are told by Charon's grandmother to take you to her tower.' Elena's
face suddenly twisted into lines of venomous hatred. 'Charon want you so
much that he go to these lengths of marriage! He must be mad for desire for
you because he tells me many times he never marry English woman! Why
do he want you so much that he marry you?' The dark eyes swept Sarah's
figure disparagingly. 'I have the better body than you! I am what men like!
You have not the fine figure what the Greek men wish to hold--'
'Charon's grandmother also lives in a tower?' broke in Sarah at last,
bypassing the wild ravings of the girl, a girl who was crazed with jealousy.
Elena glowered at her for this change of subject, and it was some moments
before she was able to regain her control. However, when presently she did
speak, her voice had assumed its former cold and confident timbre. 'A more
lonely tower than this. One two hours in a car.'
'Do you mind telling me why you are here?' asked Sarah after a pause.
At the hauteur in her tone the other girl bristled. Sarah had no doubts at all
that, as an enemy, this girl could be dangerous.
'If you are not married for one whole week, then you must have married
Charon because your life in danger.' Sarah said nothing and the girl
continued, 'I think you are married only yesterday I think Charon make up
his mind after the men come to get you.' Her eyes glinted as they looked into
Sarah's. 'It is my belief that the priest is still here, waiting till the men go so
he can return to his village. You see, English girl, I have made message to
the distant village and their priest is not at home. He is not expected home
last night, so I have made my mind that he is in this tower. I know Charon so
well. It is the thing he do when he make up his mind. Nothing makes
him makes him& ' Her voice trailed away as she frowned in concentration.
'I think it is "daunted" that is the word I want?'
'Your brain,' returned Sarah, 'appears to have been working overtime.'
Despite the heavy sarcasm contained in her voice, Sarah was mentally
admitting to an admiration for the girl. She had certainly been perceptive in
her treatment of the situation.
However, she was not too perturbed, simply because the date of her
marriage to Charon was not important; it was sufficient that she was married
and, therefore, safe as far as the vendetta was concerned.
'Does Charon's grandmother have the same ideas as you?'
'No. She very old and she not think with the clearness so much any more.'
Sarah said quietly, 'She wished for a marriage between you and Charon.
Why was this?'
'Charon should marry. It is the desire of old people to see the young ones
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