As soon as Arisa could be brought on board Aristarchi meant
to make sail, for the strong offshore breeze would blow all night.
"We may as well leave nothing behind," said Aristarchi coolly. "Michael
will wait for us below, in one of the ship's boats. There is room for
all Contarini's possessions, if we could only get at them."
"Would it not be better to be content with what we have already, and to
go at once?" asked Arisa rather timidly.
"No," replied Aristarchi. "I am going to say good-bye to your old friend
in my own way."
"Do you mean to kill him?" asked Arisa in a whisper, though it was quite
safe for them to talk in natural tones. "I could go behind him and throw
something over his head."
Aristarchi grinned, and pressed her beautiful head to his breast,
caressing her with his rough hands.
"You are as bloodthirsty as a little tigress," he said. "No. I do not
even mean to hurt him."
"Oh, I hoped you would," answered the Georgian woman. "I have hated him
so long. Will you not kill him, just to please me? We could wind him in
a sheet with a weight, you know, and drop him into the canal, and no one
would ever know. I have often thought of it."
"Have you, my gentle little sweetheart?" Aristarchi chuckled with
delight as he stroked her hair.
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