"By Allah! but you are wonderful, you English girl. I do not
understand you. I have had women here screaming, fighting, fainting,
begging for mercy upon their knees. Pah! they sickened me, but
you--well! I will go and order the coffee, not wishing to bring a
slave into your presence, and give orders also, Mademoiselle, that no
matter _what_ noise may be heard I must on no account be disturbed!
And death by knife, or whip, or water, is the _ordinary_ punishment for
those who disobey!"

Jill blew a smoke ring through another and smiled.

"It's no good ordering coffee because I shan't drink it!"

"You _will_ drink it," was the sharp reply.

"Will you take a bet?" was the ready answer.

For a moment the man who was becoming more and more amazed stared in
silence and then laughed softly as the absurdity of the situation
struck him.

"Certainly I will, for do not we orientals love a seeming hazard? So
although I take an unfair advantage of you I will lay this emerald ring
engraven with my name against one kiss from your red mouth that within
the half of one hour you will have drunk the coffee."

And taking the ring from his finger as he spoke he laid it upon a small
table beside Jill.