"Follow me," he snarled.
We passed through a square hall, carpeted and hung with gorgeous Persian, Bokharan and Chinese rugs, into a salon which was a bizarre combination of rickety French period furniture and priceless, solid Oriental stuff. The rugs, as in the hall, were worth a fortune by themselves. Hilyer, Hélène and Serge Vassilievich were lounging on a couch, smoking cigarettes and talking in low tones. The men rose as we came in, Hilyer with a swagger, the Russian with a frown that presently focussed on my face—it seemed he had never forgotten or forgiven the beating I gave him in the Gunroom at Chesby.
Hélène lay back against a pile of cushions, languorously at ease, beautiful as a tigress, a pleasant smile curving her faultless lips. Other than the smile, she made no move to greet us.
"Sit down, won't you?" said Hilyer, automatically taking charge. "Glad you came. Cigarettes? Cocktail? I assure you quite all right; taste 'em myself, if you like. No? Right O! Did they see your friend, Hilmi?"
"He—" Hilmi pointed a finger at Chesby—"says he did not know him."
"Ah!" Hilyer lighted a fresh cigarette. "Don't take my word for it, you chaps, but that man was Youssouf Mahkouf Pasha, who is popularly known in this part of the world as 'The Grand Vizier's Jackal.' You probably do not see why you should be interested in him and his presence here to-day. The fact is, however, that his visit to this house was timed so that you should have an opportunity to see him. We particularly desired you to see him, knowing that you—ah—" he smiled agreeably—"might be inclined to doubt the veracity of whatever we said to you.
"To cut a long story short, Mahkouf Pasha is a particular pal of our fellow club-member, Hilmi. I don't mind lettin' you in on it that they've been in several deals together. Now, we owe you a bit on account. Last night, for instance. But I gather that you yourselves aren't able to ride clear on the strength of it."
He paused, and Hugh caught him up.
"You have no right to suppose that," Hugh retorted sharply. "We aren't asking terms. You are."
"I notice you aren't refusing to discuss terms," said Hilyer with a glint in his eye.