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.

“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.

CHAPTER X

She was sitting with her hands crossed on her lap when he returned, carrying a small tray bearing two cups filled with coffee.