; how are you? Getting better? That's right.
See you are. How do, Preston? How do, Mr Burne? I say! Ha-ha-ha!
You're all in for it now."

"For shame, Charley, to talk like that," cried the lady. "Come up to
the fire all of you. I am very glad to see you here."

"Oh, you are, eh, madam?" said the old lawyer sharply, as he warmed his
hands over the blaze.

"Well, I do not mean that," said the lady; "but it is always pleasant to
meet English people when you are far from home."

Just then the robber chief nodded, said a few words to Yussuf, and the
prisoners were left alone.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

A QUESTION OF RANSOM.

"Nice state of affairs this, Mr Preston," said the little prisoner
holding out his arms. "Here's a dress for a gentleman;" and he
displayed the rags of Turkish costume he wore. "Chaps saw me at my club
now."

"Charley, will you hold your tongue," cried his lady angrily. "How am I
to explain our position if you will keep on chattering so?"

"But, my darling--"

"Will you be quiet, Charley. Look here, Mr Preston," she continued,
"it's just three weeks ago, as we were travelling in this horrible
country at least ten miles away, we were seized by these horrid men, and
brought here. They've taken everything we had, and given us these
miserable clothes, and every night they come to us and say--"

"They'll cut off our heads to-morrow morning."

"Will you be quiet, Charley," cried the lady, stamping her foot. "How
am I to explain? Am I not always telling you what a chatter-box you
are."

"Yes, my dear, always."

"Silence, sir! Mr Preston," she continued, as her little husband went
softly to Lawrence, and drew him aside to go on whispering in his
ear--"Mr Preston, no one knows what we have suffered. As I was
saying--I hope you are listening, Mr--Mr--Mr--Mr--"

"Burne, ma'am," said the old lawyer bowing.

"Oh, yes, I had forgotten. Mr Burne. I beg your pardon. As I was
saying they come every night, and say that to-morrow morning they will
cut off our heads and send them to Smyrna as an example, if our ransom
does not come."

"Your ransom, madam?" said the professor.

"Yes. Five thousand pounds--three for me and two for poor Charley; and
though we have sent for the money, it does not come. Isn't it a shame?"

"Scandalous, madam."

"And you can't tell how glad I am to see you here. Have you brought the
money?"

"Brought the money, ma'am? Why, we are prisoners too