She leaned closer; peered intently into his eyes. The illusive fragrance of sandalwood from her hair was not calculated to make him feel any more at ease. But he did not stir nor wink an eyelid under the close scrutiny.
"Chavigny!" she mocked. "Chavigny, the famous thief! Chavigny, whom some silly Secret Service man tracked to Indore--and lost! Chavigny, driven into hiding in Delhi! Pah! Let the Raj search for Chavigny, let it turn Delhi inside out--while we look on and laugh! You--you have imagination! I can guess what is in your mind, for I, too, have imagination! You have pictured a gigantic criminal organization--a gem syndicate, let us say--a flock of jewel vultures who have swooped down and plucked clean the bones of the empire! And perhaps you even think Chavigny the leader, yes?"
She smiled, quite pleased with herself. Then once more she leaned close to him.
"What would you think if I told you there is such a band--an order, we will call it--of jewel vultures who have flown away with riches worth a dozen rajah's ransoms? What would you think? Only"--she paused dramatically--"we will omit Chavigny, for if there be such an order he is not its head nor in it!"
He drew out his smokes; passed them to her. She refused, and he lighted a cigarette and flicked the match through the archway. Then he suggested:
She smiled wisely. "No, I can play them more effectively one by one," was her retort.
His brain was working swiftly yet carefully. When he had selected his words he uttered them.
"Presuming there is such an order, as you call it, we'll go further and say that you, by some unguessable means, have become a member; and are working with them for the Raj."
She looked her approval. "Presumably"--with a nod. That word was a key to further knowledge.
"Then it would seem logical, if I'm to work with you, for me to be initiated into the mysteries of this order--become a member, in other words."
"So the purpose of this visit, I take it, is for me to learn the 'Open Sesame' of the order."
And having said that much, he realized it was sufficient and relapsed into quiet to let her do the rest of the talking.
"You have already proved that I chose well," she announced. "But before I go on you must give me your word of honor that all I have said and will say, all that occurs until I release you from the promise, will never be repeated--by word or writing."