it beside the emerald ring upon the table as he turned to fetch his own
cup.

"Drop that!"

Jill had not raised her voice, but a certain unmistakable quality in it
caused the man to wheel sharply.

He stared in blank amazement for a fleeting second, and then, still
carefully holding the cup, backed hastily and sideways out of the
direct range of a very small but very useful-looking revolver in Jill's
right hand.

There was a curious lifelessness in the whole situation, and a quite
distressing lack of drama until the oriental smiled contemptuously.

"Do not think to frighten me with that plaything, because I am totally
unafraid. We hear of the Englishwomen who shoot and ride like men,
but--well! we hear so many tales of Europe. Put up your little toy,
Mademoiselle, and remember in future that no one with any respect for
his life _ever_ gives me an order!"

With an indifference that was not in the least assumed, he raised the
cup he was still holding.

There was a crashing report in the luxurious room, a tinkling of broken
china, and a wisp of smoke between a smiling girl and a _very_
surprised man.

"Don't be a fool, and do as you're told if _you_ have any respect for