It was a terrible voice,
the cold, grating menace of a madman.

"You, who had never seen this man but who fluttered to him like a
white moth to a fire, you who cowered from your husband's hand but
who turned to follow this strange dog into the streets--there will
be care taken of you later. But now--you complained of fatigue.
Surely this scene is overtaxing for your delicacy. If you will come
to your rooms--"

She drew back from the hand he laid upon her. "Do not injure him!
By Allah's truth! He is rash, mad, but a stranger. He did not
know--"

"He needs enlightenment. He needs to learn that a nobleman's harem
is not a cafe of dancing girls, where all may enter and stare and
fondle. _Bismallah_--he shall learn!... And now come--"

"I shall not go," she said breathlessly.

"What--struggle? But your father has been strangely remiss with his
discipline.... Permit me."

His hand tightened in a grasp of iron.

"My train is caught," she said in a tone of sudden pettishness; she
stooped to lift it with her hand that was free.

"My train--!" he mimicked her in a quivering falsetto. "Have a care
of my frock--do not crush my chiffons.... And these are the women
for whom men break their heads and hearts!"

"I tell you, sir," came urgently from Ryder, "that the girl is
innocent of all--"

"Keep your tongue from her name--and your eyes from her face!...
Come, madame."

With his iron grasp on her elbow he thrust her towards the boudoir
at the end of the drawing-room, behind whose curtains Ryder had so
long been hiding.

The chamber was in darkness, lighted only by a pale gleam from the
other room. Aimee stumbled across the rug and found herself upon a
huge divan against a window screen.

"Fatima is in the next room to come at a call. But perhaps you would
prefer to wait for me alone? I shall not be long."

Desperately she caught at his arm, imploring, "I beg you, monsieur.
He has done no real harm. Let him go. He is a stranger--he
did not know. And he will never trouble you again. I will do
anything--everything you desire--if only you will not injure him--"

"You trouble yourself strangely for a stranger."

"He is a stranger in danger for my sake. For it was in his duty to
my--my family--" her trembling lips stumbled over the ridiculous
lies, "that he has blundered into this. He has no idea how shocking
a thing he has--"

"And you had no idea, either, I suppose. You had never heard of
honor or treachery or--"