Aristarchi, though not much taller than himself, was the biggest man he had ever seen.

He thanked Zorzi, who pushed forward the porter's only chair for him to sit on while he waited.
"I will bring you an answer immediately," said Zorzi, and disappeared down the corridor.
Aristarchi sat down, crossed one leg over the other, and took a pistachio nut from his pouch.
"Master porter," he began in a friendly tone, "can you tell me who that beautiful lady is, who came here a moment ago ?" "There is no reason why I should," snarled the porter, beginning to strip the outer leaves from a large onion which he pulled from a string of them hanging by the wall.
Aristarchi said nothing for a few moments, but watched the man with an air of interest.
"Were you ever a pirate ?" he inquired presently.
"No, I never served in your crew." The porter was not often at a loss for a surly answer.

The Greek laughed outright, in genuine amusement.
"I like your company, my friend," he said.

"I should like to spend the day here." "As the devil said to Saint Anthony," concluded the porter.
Aristarchi laughed again.

It was long since he had enjoyed such amusing conversation, and there was a certain novelty in not being feared.