"He had a poetic nature," pouted the lady. "Besides, we Occidentals, colder in spirit, less imaginative, must make allowances for exotic passion. I confess that his words moved me. But I took his hand and said, 'It is impossible, my friend.'" "Ah!" said Lionel, taking fresh courage and a cigarette. "My words," she continued, "seemed to carry conviction. I felt a hot tear fall on my hand, and there was silence. The next moment he stood up and salaamed gravely. 'Lady of my dreams,' he said, 'you have conquered. I will let you go ... at a price!' "'What is the price?' I asked fearfully. He looked like a martyr. "'My life,' he replied. 'I can give you up, but I can not live without you. You are free, but I must die.'" "Damned actor!" burst out Lionel, in the depths of despair, for he foresaw the end. "I beg your pardon--I beg your pardon--but----" "He really _meant_ it," said the lady with some petulance. "Please control yourself while I finish. Of course I could not think of allowing him to kill himself, so I reasoned with him. It was useless, for he was resolved. I even offered, at last, to resign my freedom and remain with him on the old terms: again he refused. 'No,' he said; 'it can not be, Dispenser of Delight. I have suffered too much. You must marry me or bid good-by to Turkey.'" "So you married him?" said Lionel gloomily. He had forgotten all his earlier doubts. "Yes. I could not bear to think of his suicide, for I liked him very well. Besides, I had grown less sentimental during my two years of 'life,' and believed I should find more happiness in such a union than in many that are supposed to be made for 'love.' But I must admit that romance found, and still finds, a corner in my heart. The primitive idea of marriage by capture is even now immensely popular. You see, the figure of Lukos, passionate, brave, reckless, fiery, ready to kill himself----" "Oh, say he was a demigod," interrupted Lionel with bitterness, "and let us pass on." "All these Byronic attributes," said the lady calmly, "combined to whip my reluctant liking into a passable resemblance to love.... Well, I let him go--as far as the door. As he was opening it I made my decision and whispered '_Lukos!_' He turned, looking like a magnificent tiger, crouching for a spring. A light gleamed from his eyes, rivaling the flash of his jeweled sword-hilt. With a bound----" "Quite so--quite so!" said Lionel uncomfortably: the idea of being audience to such a love-scene was most repugnant. "I see--I see ... of course he would be immensely pleased--in fact, quite another man. Well, you married him----?" "The next day," said the lady. "The Patriarch of Jerusalem, who happened to be visiting the city at the time, made us one. And then I settled down to what I imagined would be a peaceful and happy life.