Zulima smiled in his face. When the door closed behind her visitor, the smile departed, and she became sad. Again the door opened. She looked toward it, expecting to see her maid. Instead of Marie, it was Ajeeb who entered. “You have had a visitor,” he said, advancing toward her. “Did you see him?” “I have eyes,” replied the high priest. “His visit seems to have made you sad. Who is he, may I ask?” “He is a detective, in the employ of Henry Stolburst.” “So?” laughed Ajeeb. “And what did he say to make you feel sad?” Zulima detailed the conversation between herself and Burt. “Did you believe him?” Ajeeb asked, when she had concluded. “Why not?” The high priest scowled. Nothing could drive it from his mind but that Stolburst possessed the Eye of Jobu. “The thief,” he said, “tells almost a similar story.” “Where is Stolburst?” “What matters it to you?” “Do not be so harsh.” “Who knew me ever to be anything but harsh?” he said. “What I desire to know is if Stolburst is in your power?” “Would you like to know, that you might tell the detective?” The girl blushed. “Uncle,” she said, “I am quite as anxious you should succeed in this matter as you can possibly be.” Ajeeb looked hard at her. “I will tell you this much,” he said, “the man has already begun to feel the punishment I designed for him.” Zulima shuddered. All the kind acts Stolburst had performed for her passed in rapid succession before the girl’s mind. She knew he was not dead. Might not the unfortunate man be dying by painful and slow degrees? Ajeeb had sworn to torture him to death, and Ajeeb always carried out his purpose, at least, so she had been taught. The high priest sneered at the emotion his niece took no pains to conceal. “Now,” he said, “you regret that this man fell into my hands.” “Yes--if he is innocent.” “You told me yourself that you knew he was guilty.” “So I thought.” “Have you had any reason to change your mind?” “I have had doubts whether my judgment was correct.” Ajeeb laughed harshly. “Those doubts were brought into being by what your late visitor said?” “True.” “He, too, may stand in the way of our success,” said Ajeeb. “The man seems honest.” “You believed Stolburst honest?” “Yes.” “The outcome proves you are no judge of character. There is a memento of your friend.” Zulima shrieked. The brute had tossed her an ear that had been severed from the explorer’s head. CHAPTER XII. COOK AND KIDD. “Well,” said Dick Kidd, after he and his pal had been ejected from Monte Murphy’s, “ain’t you a nice citizen?” Kidd was boiling over with anger. Small wonder. The equivalent of a fortune had just passed from his possession. The great green diamond was his no longer. “What’s the matter with you?” growled Enoch Cook. “You’ve treated me to a jolly time, but I’m not blind.” “Blind?” “Yes; that’s what I said.” “I don’t understand what you mean,” remarked Enoch.