The Sultan looked at her, all the time wondering why the white man was such a fool as to let this priceless pearl, this jewel among women, go unveiled, and allow the eyes of strange men to rest upon her with desire and longing.
Annette said she was pleased to meet him: a message her husband translated, and which brought a fierce smile to the young Sultan's face and made the wild desire in his savage heart suddenly blossom into plans.
So she, this houri from Paradise, was pleased to meet him! This fair flower from a far land! But not so pleased as he was to meet her.
And her husband let her say such things to strange men! What a fool the man was! Not worthy of this houri! He could not appreciate the treasure he possessed. Not as he, the Sultan, would, were she his.
Casim Ammeh despised Colonel Le Breton utterly.
As soon as the introduction was over, Annette would have gone.
"Don't run away, my pet," her husband said fondly. "I shall soon have finished."
But the girl went, anxious to get away from the Arab chief who watched her with such covetous desire and smouldering passion in his fierce black eyes.
When she had gone, the two men seated themselves again. But the Sultan gave no thought to the business in hand. He only wanted one thing now—the girl who had just gone from the tent.
Soon after Annette's departure he left, promising to visit Le Breton again within the course of a few days.