"Blood," she whispered, "blood—it is warm—it drops slowly—slowly——"
She ran her fingers across his mouth, and shook with hideous silent laughter as she showed him the tips stained red.
"Come," she said, "come—she is calling—calling——" and she struck at the hand which gripped her shoulder, and tried to shake herself free.
"Come!" said the man, looking straight into her eyes, "come with me."
She slid her hand into his, and followed him docilely as he lifted the reed purdah and entered her bedroom.
"Lie down!"
He lifted the netting and pointed to the bed.
As he towered above her the scarlet mouth in the uplifted face was on a level with his shoulder, as she smiled distractingly and raised her hands palm upwards in a little supplicating gesture.
"My Lord!" she whispered. "My Lord!"
The temptations of all the ages, and the overpowering passion of his own glowing East rose about him like a flood; he shook from head to foot as she laid herself down and drawing the sheet about her whispered again, "My Lord!"