“I refer you to them,” said Stolburst, rather stiffly. “I’ll see them in the morning.” “It seems to me,” said the explorer, “that you conduct your business on a highly moral and independent plane.” “That is because I want to live up to my reputation of being an honest man.” “We won’t quarrel. What are your terms, my dear sir?” Burt named them. The terms must have suited, for Stolburst agreed to them without haggling. Then he took his leave. The explorer had a small suite of rooms in a leading hotel. That evening he received a visitor there who was entirely unexpected. It was Zulima, who had never before called upon him. The girl’s eyes were red from weeping, and her whole appearance dejected. “My dear,” said the explorer kindly, as he conducted his visitor to a chair, “what has happened? You seem unwell.” She turned her great sorrowful eyes upon him, but did not reply. “Why don’t you speak?” asked Stolburst, after a pause. “You have seen Ajeeb?” “Yes.” “So have I,” said Zulima. “Do you know who is with him?” “Not I.” “Ashah has also come.” “What difference can that make to me?” asked Stolburst. He had grown quite nervous under the girl’s inquiring and steady look. “You know Ashah never goes afar unless--to kill.” The last word seemed to tremble upon Zulima’s lips. “Even so.” “Do you not fear Ashah, the bloody-handed servant of Jobu?” “Not I.” “I have felt for you an affection never given to a fellow creature before.” “My dear girl,” said the explorer, “what are you striving to get at?” Zulima paid no attention to the interruption. “Better than any living creature,” she said, “I love the god of my fathers. To me devotion to the great Jobu means happiness in a future life. Now he is angry with my people.” “Why?” “Because the stranger was allowed to desecrate him. Do you not tremble?” Zulima spoke in an impassioned manner throughout. Now she burst into tears. “My dear,” said Stolburst, “Ajeeb accused me of stealing the famous green diamond that formed the idol’s eye.” “Ajeeb is wise, and does not speak idle words.” “Do you then think I am a thief?” “Were I sure of that,” said the girl, “I would not be here.” “How is that?” “I was to send for you.” “I see,” exclaimed Stolburst, in mingled anger and surprise; “your uncle has turned you against me.” “I only owe you protection; if your services have a price, name it, and I shall pay.” Zulima took a rather heavy purse from her pocket. Stolburst insisted upon her putting up the money, and she complied. “Tell me,” said the dark-skinned princess, “did you steal the Eye of Jobu?” Her look seemed to her companion to pierce him through and through. “No.” The explorer spoke with all the firmness he could command. There was an undefinable something about the girl that seemed to daze his faculties. Was she a mesmerist? The thought more than once suggested itself to him. He had never experienced a like feeling when in her presence before.