"I stopped short, horrified by her words. At once I saw how I had been 'let in.' The diabolical cunning of the enchantress—the siren—was only too plain. Unless I married Lilla she would report my visit to the forbidden quarter to the commanding officer at the barracks.
"'Tell me,' I said, ill-disguising my rage, 'how much you want!'
"'Hundred thousand seventee hundred 'pees,' giggled the old woman.
"'Nothing,' laconically remarked Lilla.
"'Name your price, you witch,' I said to the girl.
"'Your love,' she replied, in a tone that caused me to exercise all my self-control to prevent myself from striking her.
"There was the soft pat-pat of footsteps in the passage; then I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Turning, I confronted a gigantic Hindoo in gorgeous costume, who had come upon us from whence I did not know.
"'This is the man?' he asked Lilla in Hindustani, a language with which I had a passing acquaintance.
"The girl replied in the affirmative. 'He refuses,' she added.