"Remain here until I return," I said, seating her upon one of the boxes. "Where are my keys?" "I hid them upon the ledge of the window, beside the door yonder." Taking them from this simple "hiding-place," I locked the door to give Mizmûna courage, and, taking the lamp with me, began to mount the stairs, first assuring myself of the presence in my pocket of my Colt automatic, which Abû Tabâh had restored to me. The ray of my lamp shining out ahead, I came to the crazy ladder giving access to the trap. I climbed up, raising the trap, and gazed upon the jeweled dome of midnight Egypt. Dire necessity spurred me, and I walked across to the adjoining trap, carefully inserted two fingers in the iron ring and pulled. It was not fastened below! Inch by inch I raised it, and, finding the room beneath it to be in darkness, opened the trap fully and descended the ladder. I flashed the light quickly about the place; then stood staring at what it revealed. My heart began to beat rapidly, for in that dirty attic I had found salvation ... and a further clue to the mystery of all my misfortunes. It was a _hashish_ warehouse! Taking off my shoes, I thrust one into either pocket of my jacket, and, perceiving that the house was constructed on a plan identical with that adjoining it, I crept downstairs to the apartment of the _mushrabîyeh_ window. A heavy curtain was draped in the doorway, but I could see that the room within was illuminated. I drew the curtains slowly aside and peeped in. I saw an apartment that had evidently been furnished very luxuriantly, but which now was partially dismantled. In the recess formed by the window a low table was placed, bearing a shaded lamp. The table was littered with papers, account books and ledgers; and, seated thereat, his back towards the door, was a man who figured feverishly. I stepped into the room. "Good evening, Yûssuf of Rosetta," I said; "you do well to set your affairs in order." V Swiftly as though a serpent had touched him, the man in the recess leaped to his feet and twisted about to confront me. I found myself looking into a hideous, swarthy face--blanched now to the lips, so that the cunning black eyes glared out as from a mask--into the hideous swarthy face of _Joseph Malaglou_! The store of _hashish_ in the upper room had somewhat prepared me for this discovery; yet, momentarily, the consummate villainy of the Greek had me bereft of speech. As I stood there glaring at him, he began furtively to grope with one hand along the edge of the _dîwan_ behind him. Then, suddenly, he became aware of the pistol which I carried--and abandoned the quest of whatever weapon he had sought, swallowing audibly. "So, my good Malaglou," I said, "you sought to make me responsible for your sins, my friend? I perceive now how the Fates have played with me. My very first conversation with your charming protégée----"