‘Then we can go for a drive or – we can stay here.’

There was a sudden fire in the Rajah’s tone as he made the last suggestion.

‘I don’t mind what we do,’ Stella replied lazily.

But I want you to mind,’ he answered quickly. ‘I want to do what pleases you. For my own part I am content when we are together. You look very beautiful today.’

‘That’s because of the dress you gave me,’ Stella said. ‘It came from Paris this morning. Do you like it? I’d better get up so that you can see it properly.’

She made a movement as if to rise, but the Rajah stopped her, his hand against her shoulder.

‘No, lie there,’ he said softly. ‘You look entrancing, a goddess reclining on a cloud.’

‘I’m so glad the cloud is a pretty substantial one,’ Stella laughed.

‘No, no, do not laugh,’ the Rajah interrupted. ‘You are very beautiful. I am very much in love with you! More in love than I have been for a very long time – perhaps ever before.’

Stella smiled sleepily at him, glad that she should be able to give so much pleasure. Then she remembered Chrissie. With difficulty she found the right words.

‘If you love me so much,’ she said at length, ‘would you like to prove it?’

For a moment the warmth seemed to vanish from the Rajah’s eyes, then as he looked down into her eyes and at the fullness of her red lips, he seemed to surrender himself to a sudden impulse.

‘I will prove my love any way you wish,’ he answered.

‘It is something so difficult I don’t believe you could do it,’ Stella said, remembering Chrissie’s instructions to put him on his mettle.

‘There are few things I cannot do,’ the Rajah boasted vainly, and it seemed to Stella a little foolishly.

‘I am wondering if you could buy me the pearls belonging to that girl – the one they call “the Ghost.”

Even as Stella said the words she wondered at her own audacity. It was one thing to accept presents from people anxious to give them, and another thing to ask for something of tremendous value.

Stella had never bothered about standards or having any rules to regulate her behaviour. No one had ever told her that she ought to have any, but while she thought it was kind and nice of people to give her things, yet she felt that to ask for something which hadn’t been offered was greedy and rather indecent. She felt hot and uncomfortable now at having to ask this kind little man for yet another present, and because she was embarrassed, because, as she phrased it in her own mind, it was a bit too much of a good thing when he had given her so much already, her conscience galvanised her into being unexpectedly demonstrative.