about her as she stood waiting for the next move in the exceedingly
dangerous game in which she was taking part.

The silence was absolutely deathly until the oriental broke it, smiling
the while as he might on a rebellious child.

"If you make a noise you will bring women and servants, and perhaps my
friends, packing to the door from the most distant corners of the
house. They do not know that you are here as I brought you in by a
secret door and private way, also no one is allowed to place foot in my
own quarter of the house without my permission, with the exception of
the guardian of the big door itself, but their curiosity would outweigh
their prudence if they heard cries, for their delight is unbounded when
trouble reigns between their friend or master and a _woman_. If you
bite and kick and scratch I shall have you overpowered and bound to
_your_ great sorrow, and _their_ greater delight. It has been written
that you shall be one of those whom I honour with my favour, why then
try to fight against that which is ordained?"

Jill answered never a word, contenting herself with keeping a watch on
the man's movements, though to the very innermost part of her she
longed to fling herself upon him to mutilate or to kill.

"We will have coffee, O! very lovely daughter of the North, and
consider this little matter settled even before we were born. Does my
suggestion find favour in those eyes which are as the sky at night?"

But for all answer Jill moved round the couch and sat herself down upon
the satin cushions, opened her hand-bag, and finding her cigarette case
lit a cigarette.