and when night came and the last efharisto andparacalo had been awkwardly uttered by the visitors , other games would begin the courtiers andcourtesans the beautiful , ageless , self-indulgentchildren of the blue aegean , would start to play.peals of laughter would be heard as drachmas werecounted and spent in amounts that would staggereven those who had opulent suites on the highestdecks of the most luxurious ships .