"That you release the daughter of the Senhor Canalejas and pledge your word of honor that she will not be enslaved." * * * * * Ribiera's word of honor, of course, would be worth rather less than the breath that was used to give it. But his reception of the proposal would be informative. He chuckled again. "No, Senhor. I do not accept. But I will promise you as a favor, because my uncle The Master admires you, that within a few weeks you shall enjoy her charms. I do not," he added with amused candor, "find that any one woman diverts me for a very long time." "Oh," said Bell, very quietly. He sat still for an instant, and then shrugged, and looked about as if for an ash tray in which to knock the ashes from his cigarette. He stood up, carrying the tube of tobacco gingerly, and moved toward one by Ribiera's elbow. He knocked off the ash, and crushed out the tiny coal. He fumbled in his pockets. The next instant Ribiera choked with terror. "Let me explain," said Bell softly. "I did not give your major-domo my word that I was unarmed. I merely gave him a weapon. I got these from two policemen who tried to arrest me an hour or so ago. And I also remind you, Senhor, that if the armed men you have posted to prevent my escape try to shoot me, that the inevitable contraction of my muscles will send two bullets into your heart--even if I am dead. I am a dead man, Senhor, if you give the word, but so are you if you give it." Ribiera gasped. His eyes rolled in his head. "Send for her," said Bell very gently. "Send for her, Senhor. I estimate that she has been in this house for less than half an hour. Have her brought here at once, and if she has been harmed the three of us will perish very promptly, and half of Rio will go mad after our death." And the muzzles of two revolvers bored into the fat flesh of Ribiera's body, and a gasp that was almost a wail of terror came from the watchers--armed watchers--who dared not kill the man they had been posted to guard Ribiera against. Ribiera lifted his hand and croaked an order. (_To be continued._) [Advertisement:] Brigands of the Moon (The Book of Gregg Haljan) PART THREE OF A FOUR-PART NOVEL _By Ray Cummings_ [Illustration: Light-rays and silent flashes seemed to envelop us.] [Sidenote: Gregg and Anita risk quick, sure death in a desperate bluff on the ruthless Martian brigands.] _WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE_ One day in 2075 the Interplanetary Space-Ship _Planetara_ left the Earth for Mars. I, Gregg Haljan, was third officer. It was destined to be a tragic voyage. For in our midst were unscrupulous brigands, masquerading as harmless passengers, intent on seizing the secret treasure of radium ore Johnny Grantline of the Grantline Expedition had dug from the Moon. The _Planetara_ was to stop on the Moon and pick the treasure up on her return trip from Mars.