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power。 It is pleasant to be hated and yet to know that it is to us they must
cringe when they are in need； and it is very pleasant to refuse。 My friend
Gregorio is not happy now that he is struggling in my grasp。〃
As for Gregorio； he wandered away toward the harbour； kicking
savagely at the refuse scattered along the pavement。 He did not know how
to set about earning the requisite sum。 It was no good applying to the
hotels or tourist agencies； for there were few visitors in the city and
dragomen were therefore not needed。
His friends were too poor to help him； and the consul was unable to do
much for him； there were so many poor Greeks who wanted help。
Meanwhile there was no food at home and no drink； even the necessaries
of life were lacking。
On arriving at his home he found his wife and child huddled in a
corner crying for food。 They ran toward him as he entered； but the hope in
their faces quickly faded at the sight of him。
〃It's no good；〃 Gregorio growled； 〃Amos refuses to advance a piastre
and says I must pay all I owe in three days。〃
〃It is impossible to sleep when one is hungry；〃 said Gregorio that night
to his wife； who lay awake； weeping； beside him。
III OF FAILURE AND A RESOLVE
Gregorio's dreams； when he did sleep； were none of the pleasantest；
and when he woke up； from time to time； he heard his wife weeping。 In
wondering what he should say to comfort her he fell asleep again； and
sleeping was worse than lying awake。 For in his dreams he saw Xantippe
and his child starving and crying for food； and he was unable to help them
in any way。 He lived over again the long day he had spent tramping the
streets of Alexandria searching for work。 He saw the few tourists still left
in the town fat and happy； he saw the porters of the hotels who had smiled
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on him pityingly and yet contemptuously； and he woke； after each
representation of the crude comedy； hot and yet cold with perspiration； to
feel the bed on which he lay shaking under the sobs of his wife。
When at last day dawned Gregorio raised himself with an oath； and
swore to find food for his family and work for himself。 The terrible debt
he owed to Amos he swore should not trouble him； laughing at his wife's
remonstrances。 With the bright daylight had come a new courage； and；
hungry as he was； he felt able not only to satisfy their hunger； but so
skilfully to arrange matters that they would never feel hungry again。 Yet is
was a terrible ordeal； that half…hour when the family should have sat down
to a table laden with food。 The poor wife cried； and he had to comfort her
tears with promises； unsubstantial nutriment indeed； and they could not
satisfy the child； who failed dismally to understand them。 Through the
green blinds came the noise of life and health and merriment； curses too；
sometimes； but only the curses of the well fed； and therefore meaningless。
Already the sun fell hot and indomitable on the room； and the atmosphere
at their touch became stifling。 Gregorio； swallowing his tears； tore out into
the street； shouting up the narrow stairway hysterical words of hope。
How long and shadowless the street seemed！ Every house had its
green blinds closely shut； the wind that stirred the dust of the pavements
was hot and biting。 Gregorio clinched his hands and strode rapidly onward。
What mattered it to him that behind those green blinds women and men
slumbered in comparative comfort？ He had a work to do； and by sunset
must carry good tidings to his little world。 For a time his heart was brave
as the dry wind scorched the tear upon his cheek。 〃Surely；〃 he thought；
weaving his thoughts into a fine marching rhythm； 〃the great God will
help me now； will help me now。〃
At midday； after he had tried； with that strange Greek pertinacity that
understands no refusals； all the hotels and tourist agencies he had called at
the day before； he became weary and disconsolate。 The march had become
a dirge； no longer it suggested happiness to be； but failure。 An Englishman
threw him a piastre； and he turned into a cafe。 Calling for a glass of wine；
he flung himself down on the wooden bench and tried to think。 But really
logical thinking was impossible。 For in spite of the sorrow at his heart； the
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same bright dreams of wealth and happiness came back to mock him。 The
piastre he played with became gold； and he felt the cafe contained no
luxuries that he might not command to be brought before him。 But as the
effects of the red wine of Lebanon evaporated he began to take a soberer
though still cheerful view of his position。 It was only when the waiter
carried off his piastre that he suddenly woke to fact and knew himself
once more a man with a wife and child starving in Alexandria； an alien
city for all its wealthy colony of Greeks。 A wave of pity swept over him；
not so much for the woman was he sorry； though he loved her too； but for
the baby whose future he had planned。 He scowled savagely at the inmates
of the cafe； who only smiled quietly； for they were used to poor Greeks
who had drunk away their last coin； and pushed past them into the street。
There it was hotter than ever； and he met scarcely any one。 Every one
who could be was at home； or in the cool cafes； only Gregorio was abroad。
He determined to make for the quay。 He knew that many ships put into the
Alexandrian waters； and there was often employment found for those not
too proud to work at lading and unloading。 Quickly； and burning as the
kempsin； he hurried through the Rue des Soeurs； not daring to look up at
the house wherein he dwelt。 The muffled sounds of voices and guitars
from the far…away interiors seemed to mock his footsteps as he passed the
wine…shops； and all the other houses were silent and asleep。 At last he
arrived on the quay； and the black lines of the P。 and O。 stood out firmly
before him against the pitiless blue of sea and sky。 He wandered over the
hot stone causeway； but found no one。 The revenue officers were away；
and not a labourer； not a sailor； was visible。 Beyond the breakwater little
tufts