Hassan, who played the darabukkeh, could modulate its
throbbing so wonderfully.
Zahara entered the room, enveloped from shoulders to ankles in a
flame-coloured cloak. Between her lips she held a red rose.
"By God, what a beauty!" said a husky voice.
Zahara did not know which of the party had spoken, but she was
conscious of the fact that by virtue of the strange witchcraft
which became hers on such nights she held them all spell-bound.
They were her slaves.
Slowly she walked across the apartment while the throbbing of the
Arab drum grew softer and softer, producing a weird effect of
space and distance. All eyes were fixed upon her, and meeting
Grantham's gaze she saw at last the Light there which she knew.
This sudden knowledge of triumph almost unnerved her, and the
rose which she had taken from between her lips trembled in her
white fingers. Two of the petals fell upon the carpet, which was
cream-coloured from the looms of Ispahan. Like blood spots the
petals lay upon the cream surface.
Zahara swung sharply about. Agapoulos, seated alone in the chair
over which he had draped the leopard skin, was busily brushing
his moustache and glancing sideways toward the screen which
concealed Safryeh.
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