”‘Well—I expected to meet you,’ I laughed, ‘for I saw you in Pera to-day.’
“He looked at me quickly, as his servant at that moment handed him his coffee on a tray.
”‘I did not see you,’ he said somewhat uneasily, raising his cup to his lips. Then, noticing that I had not touched mine, he asked, ‘Don’t you take coffee? Will you have a glass of rahki?’
”‘I desire nothing,’ I said, looking him straight in the face.
”‘But surely you will take something? We often drank together in the Club at Sofia, remember!’
”‘I do not drink with my enemies.’
“The trio started, glaring at me.
”‘You are distinctly insulting,’ exclaimed Mehmed, his yellow face growing flushed with anger. ‘Recall those words, or by the Prophet, you do not pass from this house alive!’
“I laughed aloud in their faces.
”‘Ah!’ I cried, ‘this is amusing! This is really a good joke! And pray what do you threaten?’