continued speaking very
gently.

"Listen! I should have killed you myself to-night, feeling myself
justified, so that other wretched girls should escape the fate you had
prepared for me--you, lower than the beasts of the field; but I am not
going to do it, as happily I know of one more powerful than I who will
enjoy it thoroughly. Think of what I say when you see his messenger
with your ring upon his finger, to-morrow or next month or next year
perhaps--and when your time comes, watch the procession of betrayed and
tortured girls as they pass before you to catch your soul in their slim
hands as it leaves your body. Now! drink that coffee!"

But the man stood stock still, and Jill frowned, for she was not a
paragon of patience at any time, and the obstinacy of the man fretted
her already jagged nerves.

"Very well," she said, "I give you one more chance. If you refuse
again I shall put a bullet straight through your head just between the
eyebrows, as I shall now put one through that brooch kind of thing in
your turban."

There was another deafening report, and the turban flew from the
oriental's head just as a paper-bag will fly before a March wind.

"Go and pick that turban up and put it on your head. Hurry now, or we
shall have the police or someone coming to inquire about the shooting
gallery."

The eyes of the boa-constrictor in the Zoo were gems of humanity in
comparison with those of the negroid-Egyptian's as he turned to obey,
and then stopped mulishly until a third little reminder chipped
splinters from the marble at his heel, whereupon he stooped and
recovered his headgear, minus the brooch, but plus a neat little hole
fore and aft.

"Now come and drink the coffee! It won't be very nice as it is almost
cold. And remember in future if you are allowed to live, which I
_very_ much doubt, that such supreme indifference as mine could only
_possibly_ be the outcome of an absolute sense of perfect security."

Jill patted the silly-looking little ivory and silver thing she held.

"You mongrel!" she continued sweetly, "I was simply playing with you
until the right moment--the coffee moment which I knew must
happen--should arrive in which to give you a lesson. Why! when I saw
your eyes in the restaurant I took my little friend from my pocket and
made sure he was in order. I may look a fool, and I may act in a
manner still more foolish, but I am _not_ exactly what you would call a
_born_ fool! Now dr