Part 35 (2/2)
He looked at her and wondered what devilriesin her mind, what evil purpose she desired to serve
”Thou'lt pay three thousand philips?” he said slowly Then bluntly asked her: ”Why?”
”To gratify a whim, to please a fancy”
”What is the nature of this costly whim?” he insisted
”The desire to possess her for my own,” she answered evasively
”And this desire to possess her, whence is it sprung?” he returned, as patient as he was relentless
”You ask too er
He shrugged and smiled ”You answer too few”
She set her arh her veil he caught the gleae she had in that her face was covered fro
”In a word, Oliver-Reis,” said she, ”wilt sell her for three thousand philips?”
”In a word--no,” he answered her
”Thou'lt not? Not for three thousand philips?” Her voice was charged with surprise, and he wondered was it real or assumed
”Not for thirty thousand,” answered he ”She is mine, and I'll not relinquish her So since I have proclaiht with peril for us both, I beg thee to depart”
There fell a little pause, and neither of them noticed the alert interest stamped upon the white face of Rosae of French which enabled her to follow ua franca they employed
Fenzileh drew close to him ”Thou'lt not relinquish her, eh?” she asked, and he was sure she sneered ”Be not so confident Thou'lt be forced to it,for her, himself, in person”
”Asad?” he cried, startled now
”Asad-ed-Din,” she answered, and upon that resu ”Coain with me than a bad one with the Basha”
He shook his head and planted his feet squarely ”I intend to ain with either of you This slave is not for sale”
”Shalt thou dare resist Asad? I tell thee he will take her whether she be for sale or not”
”I see,” he said, his eyes narrowing ”And the fear of this, then, is the source of thy whim to acquire her for thyself Thou art not subtle, O Fenzileh The consciousness that thine own char lest so ard, eh?”