She withdrew her hand with a gesture of contempt.
"Bah!" she said bitterly. "I am not afraid of the police."
Then she sank into a reverie, her gaze fixed on the dying embers of the fire.
"All my life has been a struggle," she went on, after a moment, "first with hunger, then with men, then the police. I am used to a hard life. No, it is not the police!"
"Who is it, then" asked Desmond, completely nonplused.
Nur-el-Din let her eyes rest on his face for a moment.
"You have honest eyes," she said, "your eyes are not German... pardon me, I would not insult your race... I mean they are different from the rest of you. One day, perhaps, those eyes of yours may persuade me to answer your question. But I don't know you well enough yet!"
She broke off abruptly, shaking her head.
