"They will play for hours." "They had not said a word that could put their necks in danger," answered Aristarchi discontentedly.

"Who is this fellow from the glass-house, of whom they were speaking ?" Arisa led him away to a small divan between the open windows.

She sat down against the cushions at the back, but he stretched his bulk upon the floor, resting his head against her knee.

She softly rubbed his rough hair with the palm of her hand, as she might have caressed a cat, or a tame wild animal.

It gave her a pleasant sensation that had a thrill of danger in it, for she always expected that he would turn and set his teeth into her fingers.
She told him the story of the last meeting, and how Zorzi had been made one of the society in order that they might not feel obliged to kill him for their own safety.
"What fools they are!" exclaimed Aristarchi with a low laugh, and turning his head under her hand.
"You would have killed him, of course," said Arisa, "if you had been in their place.