The evening did improve after the lobster bisque was served, the first course in a seven-course dinner. Melpomeni restrained herself from indulging in the St. Philippe Rothschild special reserve red wine that was the choice of the captain. The dessert that Melpomeni had in mind was not one on the chef's list. She had her own choice.
Nikolas felt uncomfortable all evening and could not wait until the dinner was over so he could leave. He focused his mind constantly on the beautiful girl he had seen in the ship's library. At last Melpomeni stood up with difficulty, said good night to the officers, and before she started to walk away, turned around and addressed Nikolas:
"Would you like to accompany a lady for a drink, Officer Nikolas?"
"Mrs. Bouras, I am very tired. I am sorry, but I must decline your invitation. I am going to my cabin to rest."
Melpomeni did not take well to the rejection. She gathered all of her angry frustrations and shouted:
"What kind of gentleman refuses to accompany a lady at her request?! Definitely not a true Greek gentleman!" Raising her head and arching her eyebrows, her eyeballs pressed to the maximum against their sockets, radiating sparks of fiery anger, she continued, "But of course, I forgot! You think I don't know who you are? I know everything about everyone on this ship, since the owner is a good friend of my husband and so I know that you are not even a true Greek! You were born and raised in Smyrna and that makes you a filthy Turk! You are not a true Greek, but a Turkish bastard! That's who you are!"
She raised her right hand with the strength of an irate Amazonian-WarriorWoman, and slapped Nikolas across the face. Nikolas stood boldly, like the statue of a Kouros, erect and unshaken.
"I am sorry you feel this way, Mrs. Bouras," said Nikolas, taking his hat as he nodded good night to the captain. He turned around proudly with his head up high and walked out of the deadly quiet dining room.
"Officer Walker, please accompany Mrs.
Bouras to wherever she wishes to go."
"Yes sir." Walker fetched Melpomeni's hat, which had fallen on the floor, the elegant feathers bent. "Your hat, ma'am."
Angrily putting on her hat, Melpomeni almost pierced herself as she secured it with a pin into her hair. Officer Walker then took her full-length black mink coat and helped her put it on, sneezing as the fur collar tickled his nose. The woman marched onward with her coat flapping, revealing a short, tasseled, white dress. She was sober enough to make sure everybody noticed her nicely shaped legs. Walker followed behind, carrying her highly polished black purse. Melpomeni burst out laughing when she turned and saw Walker with her purse. She promptly took her shoes off and handed them to him as well, laughing again loudly.