"`Good evening, Monsieur Martin,' he exclaimed with a sinister grin upon his thin face. `You expected, I believe, to meet Mademoiselle Olga, eh?' "`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?' "`We do not threaten,' Zekki said. `You are here to die.' And he laughed grimly, while the others grinned. "`Why?' "`That is our affair.' "`And mine also,' I replied. `And gentlemen, I would further advise you in future to be quite certain of your victim, or it may go ill with you. Let me pass!' And I drew the revolver the _kavass_ had given me. "`Put that thing away!' ordered the elder of the men, approaching me with threatening gesture. "`I shall not. Let us end this confounded foolishness. _Shunam-al-Zulah_!' "The effect of these words upon the trio was electrical. "The sallow-faced _attache_ stood staring at me open-mouthed, while his companions fell back, as though I had dealt them both a blow. They seemed too dumbfounded to respond, as, revolver in hand, I next moment passed out of the room and from that house to which I had been so cleverly lured, and where my death had evidently been planned. "At the hotel I spent a sleepless night, full of deep anxiety, wondering for what reason the curious plot had been arranged, and whether my dainty little companion had had any hand in it. "My apprehensions were, however, entirely dispelled when early on the following been morning, Olga called to ask why I had absent when the _kavass_ had called for me. "I took her into one of the smaller rooms, and told her the whole truth, whereat she was much upset, and eager to leave the Turkish capital immediately. "At seven that same evening we sailed for Naples, and without further incident duly arrived at the Italian port, took train for Rome, and thence by express to Paris and Charing Cross. "On the journey she refused to discuss the plot of the jealous, evil-eyed Turk. Her one idea was to get to London--and to freedom.