The impish grin of the latent savage broke through the habitual austerity of Victor’s countenance.
“There is no more,” he said, “but this: Sleep now, and do not waken before noon to-morrow—sleep!”
With a quavering sigh, the girl reclosed her eyes and instantly relapsed into the sleep of trance which was insensibly in the course of the night to merge into natural slumber.
Victor ironed out his grimace, and signed to Shaik Tsin.
“Bear her back to her room. Instruct Chou Nu to put her to bed and not to wake her up before noon.”
“Hearing is obedience.”
The Chinaman bent over, gathered the inert body into his arms, and without perceptible effort stood erect. But in the act of turning away he paused and, continuing to hold the girl as easily as if she weighed no more than a child, interrogated the man he served.
“You believe she will do all you have ordered?”
“I know she will.”
“Without error?”