CHAPTER VII.

Has the folly of looking into A woman’s eyes by way of text.

“This is the woman, captain,” one of the policemen said in triumph; “and, begging your pardon, will you keep a grip of her till the sheriff comes back?”

Halliwell did not turn his head.

“You can leave her here.” he said carelessly, “Three of us are not needed to guard a woman.”

“But she’s a slippery customer.”

“You can go,” said Halliwell; and the policemen withdrew slowly, eyeing their prisoner doubtfully until the door closed.  Then the officer wheeled round languidly, expecting to find the Egyptian gaunt and muscular.

“Now then,” he drawled, “why—­By Jove!”

The gallant soldier was as much taken aback as if he had turned to find a pistol at his ear.  He took his feet off the table.  Yet he only saw the gypsy’s girlish figure in its red and green, for she had covered her face with her hands.  She was looking at him intently between her fingers, but he did not know this.  All he did want to know just then was what was behind the hands.

Before he spoke again she had perhaps made up her mind about him, for she began to sob bitterly.  At the same time she slipped a finger over her ring.

“Why don’t you look at me?” asked Halliwell, selfishly.

“I daurna.”

“Am I so fearsome?”

“You’re a sojer, and you would shoot me like a craw.”

Halliwell laughed, and taking her wrists in his hands, uncovered her face.

“Oh, by Jove!” he said again, but this time to himself.

As for the Egyptian, she slid the ring into her pocket, and fell back before the officer’s magnificence.

“Oh,” she cried, “is all sojers like you?”

There was such admiration in her eyes that it would have been self-contempt to doubt her.  Yet having smiled complacently, Halliwell became uneasy.

“Who on earth are you?” he asked, finding it wise not to look her in the face.  “Why do you not answer me more quickly?”

“Dinna be angry at that, captain,” the Egyptian implored.  “I promised my mither aye to count twenty afore I spoke, because she thocht I was ower glib.  Captain, how is’t that you’re so fleid to look at me?”

Thus put on his mettle, Halliwell again faced her, with the result that his question changed to “Where did you get those eyes?” Then was he indignant with himself.

“What I want to know,” he explained severely, “is how you were able to acquaint the Thrums people with our movements?  That you must tell me at once, for the sheriff blames my soldiers.  Come now, no counting twenty!”

He was pacing the room now, and she had her face to herself.  It said several things, among them that the officer evidently did not like this charge against his men.