“You said no woman save an old peasant had ever placed foot within this house.  If so, what do these Eastern things mean?” holding out as she spoke a feminine something which seemed to be composed of sea-form, and pearls.

“For myself I only see a few bedroom wraps, and—­and a garment in—­in the bathroom.”

And her heart suddenly stopped a beat, and then made the blank up by multiplying the next, for she had seen the man’s face as he had taken the offending garment, and tearing it across and again across, dropped it at his feet, before he moved slowly towards her across the dividing space to take her two hands in his, holding them against his breast in a clasp that hurt.

“Listen,” he said.  “I shall speak this once and never again!  Listen!” For a moment the quiet voice stopped, so that the gentle cracking of the burning logs could alone be heard above the heavy thud of the girl’s heart, which to her ears sounded like thunder of the surf at dawn.  “You are mine, mine, do you understand?  You are no silly child, you knew what you were doing when you came with me, neither am I a man, for man or woman to play with.  And now I have you, as Allah is above us, I will never let you go, for although the oasis and the camels and horses are yours, you will find no soul to lead the beast across the sands so covered with the bleaching bones of those who have gone astray.  Oh! be not afraid,” for the little face beneath his was white.  “You are mistress here.  You need but draw the curtain and no one will enter, no one until you clap your hands and call them by name.  You will forgive the lowly room which entours you, and the unseemly garments which in haste I ordered, guessing at what you might require.  Tomorrow you shall order what you will, and your slaves shall bring all from the great cities at the greatest speed, for as I have said, a dwelling worthy of your beauty shall be erected before many moons have sped.  I will leave you, for doubtless you would remove your dust-laden raiment.  I will send your slave, who even now is returning thanks to Allah in that I have found her worthy to wait upon you, and who also prepares some dishes for your refreshment.  You are not hungry, and you do not wish her presence!  Then shall she not disturb you.”

And Jill found herself alone, upon which she took stock of herself in a long mirror which stretched from floor to ceiling, and hurriedly removed her outer garments.

CHAPTER XXIV

It was a very beautiful girl who stood by the fire listening to the intense silence which precedes the dawn.  The golden shimmering garment fell from her shoulders in soft folds, clinging here and there as though it loved the beautiful form it covered; her feet slipped in and out of the golden mules, in which, try as she would, she could not walk; her hair fell in two great plaits far below her knees; she was perfumed with the perfumes of Egypt, than which there is no more to say.