sorts as be looked the girl up and down from head to foot. "The
police--the law--you are in Egypt, Madame, or I should say Mademoiselle
I think. Money! when a man holds heaven itself within his grasp, does
he open his hand to grasp a passing cloud?"

"I should advise you to let me go _at_ once," repeated Jill, "if you
don't want my friends to raise trouble!"

But her bluff was of no avail as she was soon aware when once more the
man salaamed with a world of mockery in the action.

"But Mademoiselle has but now run away from her friends! No?--she has
but little--oh! _very_ little money!--yes?--and nowhere to go--it is
for that that I have thrown my protection around her!"

Jill thought hard for a moment, wondering how much the man knew of her
escapade.

"How do you know? _Who_ told you I had no money? I _have_ a friend as
it happens------!"

"Mademoiselle has no friend but me," interrupted the man; "she left
them at the hotel when she went to take a walk."

And Jill retreated step by step before him as he came closer still, his
voice sinking to a whisper, his hand within an inch of her wrist.

"I will not harm you because you are oh, _very_ beautiful! You are a
feast of loveliness and I--I am hungry!"