"Steephen, please speak lower; always there is someone listening everywhere. I do not know who the Master is or why he is here or why he does these things. I swear by Allah! If I knew I would tell you. Sometimes distinguished-looking men come here to the room where the Master receives them--not the room where you saw him--and he makes me dance before them and afterward flirt with them a little. And always I must repeat exactly what they say to me. That is what I must always do--in Turkey, in the Barbary States, in Egypt, in France and in England. The Master taught me French and English and educated me in many ways himself. He is the greatest sorcerer in all the world and knows all ancient magic and everything." "Zuleika," I said, "my race is soon run, but let me get you out of this--come with me and I swear I'll get you away from this fiend!" She shuddered and hid her face. "No, no, I can not!" "Zuleika," I asked gently, "what hold has he over you, child--dope also?" "No, no!" she whimpered. "I do not know--I do not know--but I can not--I never can escape him!" I sat, baffled for a few moments; then I asked, "Zuleika, where are we right now?" "This building is a deserted storehouse back of the Temple of Silence." "I thought so. What is in the chests in the tunnel?" "I do not know." Then suddenly she began weeping softly. "You too, a slave, like me--you who are so strong and kind--oh Steephen, I can not bear it!" I smiled. "Lean closer, Zuleika, and I will tell you how I am going to fool this Kathulos." She glanced apprehensively at the door. "You must speak low. I will lie in your arms and while you pretend to caress me, whisper your words to me." She glided into my embrace, and there on the dragon-worked couch in that house of horror I first knew the glory of Zuleika's slender form nestling in my arms--of Zuleika's soft cheek pressing my breast. The fragrance of her was in my nostrils, her hair in my eyes, and my senses reeled; then with my lips hidden by her silky hair I whispered, swiftly: "I am going first to warn Sir Haldred Frenton--then to find John Gordon and tell him of this den. I will lead the police here and you must watch closely and be ready to hide from _Him_--until we can break through and kill or capture him. Then you will be free." "But you!" she gasped, paling. "You must have the elixir, and only he----" "I have a way of outdoing him, child," I answered. She went pitifully white and her woman's intuition sprang at the right conclusion. "You are going to kill yourself!" And much as it hurt me to see her emotion, I yet felt a torturing thrill that she should feel so on my account. Her arms tightened about my neck. "Don't, Steephen!" she begged. "It is better to live, even----" "No, not at that price. Better to go out clean while I have the manhood left."