The false leper had vanished. Yun Shatu stood gazing at me as immobile as an idol, hands in his wide sleeves, and Yussef Ali stood back, muttering murderously and thumbing his dagger edge, as I led Gordon out of the opium room and through the innocent-appearing bar which lay between that room and the street. Out in the street I said to him: "I have no idea as to who you are or what you are doing here, but you see what an unhealthful place it is for you. Hereafter be advised by me and stay away." His only answer was a searching glance, and then he turned and walked swiftly though somewhat unsteadily up the street. _6. The Dream Girl_ "I have reached these lands but newly From an ultimate dim Thule." --Poe. Outside my room sounded a light footstep. The door-knob turned cautiously and slowly; the door opened. I sprang erect with a gasp. Red lips, half parted, dark eyes like limpid seas of wonder, a mass of shimmering hair--framed in my drab doorway stood the girl of my dreams! She entered, and half turning with a sinuous motion, closed the door. I sprang forward, my hands outstretched, then halted as she put a finger to her lips. "You must not talk loudly," she almost whispered; "_He_ did not say I could not come; yet----" Her voice was soft and musical, with just a touch of foreign accent which I found delightful. As for the girl herself, every intonation, every movement proclaimed the Orient. She was a fragrant breath from the East. From her night-black hair, piled high above her alabaster forehead, to her little feet, encased in high-heeled pointed slippers, she portrayed the highest ideal of Asiatic loveliness--an effect which was heightened rather than lessened by the English blouse and skirt which she wore. "You are beautiful!" I said dazedly. "Who are you?" "I am Zuleika," she answered with a shy smile. "I--I am glad you like me. I am glad you no longer dream hashish dreams." Strange that so small a thing should set my heart to leaping wildly! "I owe it all to you, Zuleika," I said huskily. "Had not I dreamed of you every hour since you first lifted me from the gutter, I had lacked the power of even hoping to be freed from my curse." She blushed prettily and intertwined her white fingers as if in nervousness. "You leave England tomorrow?" she said suddenly. "Yes. Hassim has not returned with my ticket----" I hesitated suddenly, remembering the command of silence. "Yes, I know, I know!" she whispered swiftly, her eyes widening. "And John Gordon has been here! He saw you!" "Yes!" She came close to me with a quick lithe movement. "You are to impersonate some man! Listen, while you are doing this, you must not ever let Gordon see you! He would know you, no matter what your disguise! He is a terrible man!"