Dr Hodder, being a wonderful surgeon, managed to cut his finger with a razor-edged kris at that instant, drawing a little shriek from Miss Followed, to whom he was jocularly explaining that scientific Malays used the thing in removing one another's appendices, the surgeon being the one who survived the operation. During the excitement incident to the bloodletting the middle-aged gentlemen glanced furtively at their watches and indulged in a mental calculation from which they emerged somewhat easier in their minds. It still wanted an hour before the theatres were out. “Dreadful bore,” yawned one of them behind his hand. “Stupidest woman I ever sat next to,” said the other, Then both looked at their watches again. Frederic joined Lydia at the table. “A delicious scene, wasn't it?” he asked bitterly in lowered tones. Her fingers touched his. “What did he mean, Freddy? Oh, I felt so sorry for you. It was dreadful.” “Don't take it so seriously, Lyddy,” he said, squeezing her hand gently. Both of them realised that it was the nearest thing to a caress that had passed between them in a fortnight or longer. A wave of shame swept through him. “Dear old girl--my dear old girl,” he whispered brokenly. Her eyes radiated joy, her lips parted in a wan, tremulous smile of surprise, and a soft sigh escaped them. “My dear, dear boy,” she murmured, and was happier than she had been in weeks. “See here, old chap,” said one of the middle-aged gentlemen, again consulting his watch as he loudly addressed his host, “can't you hurry this performance of yours along a bit? It is after ten, you know.” “A quarter after,” said the other middle-aged gentleman. “I will summon the magician,” said Brood. “Be prepared, ladies and gentlemen, to meet the devil. Ranjab is the prince of darkness.” He lifted his hand to strike the gong that stood near the edge of the table. Involuntarily four pairs of eyes fastened their gaze upon the door to the Hindu's closet. Three mellow, softly reverberating “booms” filled the room. Almost instantly the voice of the Hindu was heard. “_Aih, sahib!_” He came swiftly into the room from the hall, and not from his closet. The look of relief in Yvonne's eyes was short-lived. She saw amazement in the faces of the two old men--and knew! “After we have had the feats of magic,” Brood was saying, “Miss Desmond will read to you, ladies and gentlemen, that chapter of our journal----” “My word!” groaned both of the middle-aged gentlemen, looking at their watches. “Relating to----” “You'll have to excuse me, Brood, really, you know. Important engagement up-town----” “Sit down, Cruger,” exclaimed Hodder. “The lady won't miss you.”