"So I rose, slipped on my overcoat, and followed him out to the brougham, upon the box of which, beside the driver, sat a big black eunuch. The carriage had evidently been to fetch some ladies before calling for me. "The _kavass_ seated himself at my side, and we drove up and down many dark, ill-lit streets, where the scavenger dogs were howling, until we suddenly came out in view of the Bosphorus, that lay fairy-like beneath the full Eastern moon. "Nicholas, the _kavass_, was from Cettinje, he told me, and when we began to talk, I discovered that his brother Mirko had been my servant on a journey through Albania two years before. "`What! Gospodin!' cried the big mountaineer, grasping my hand and wringing it warmly. `Are you really the Gospodin Martin? I was in Cettinje last summer, and my dear old father spoke of you! I have to thank you. It was you who brought the English doctor to him and saved his life. Fancy that we should meet here, and to-night!' "`Why to-night?' "The big fellow was silent. His manner had entirely changed. "Suddenly he said: `Gospodin, you are going to the house of Mehmed Zekki and--' "`Zekki!' I gasped. `Then I was not mistaken when I thought I saw him. He had followed us.' "`Ah! Gospodin! Have a care of yourself! Take this, in case--in case you may require it,' he said, and pulling from his sash one of his loaded revolvers, he handed it to me. "`But you said that mademoiselle had sent you for me?' I remarked surprised. "`I was told to say that, Gospodin. I know nothing of mademoiselle.' "`Mademoiselle Olga Steinkoff. Have you never heard of her?' I demanded. "`Never.' "`Then I will go back to the hotel.' "`No, Gospodin. Do not show fear. It would be fatal. Enter and defy the man who is evidently your enemy. Touch neither food nor drink there. Then, if you are threatened, utter the words, _Shunam-al-zulah_--recollect them. Show no fear, Gospodin--and you will escape.' "At that moment the carriage turned into a large garden, which surrounded a fine house--almost a palace--the house wherein my enemy was lying in wait. "Entering a beautiful winter-garden full of flowers, a servant in long blue coat and fez, conducted me through a large apartment, decorated in white and gold, into a smaller room, Oriental in decoration and design, an apartment hung with beautiful gold embroideries, and where the soft cushions of the divans were of pale-blue silk and gold brocade. "Two middle-aged Turks were squatting smoking, and as I was shown in, scowled at me curiously, saluted, and in French asked me to be seated. "`Mademoiselle will be here in a few moments,' added the elder of the pair. "A few seconds later the servant entered with a tiny cup of coffee, the Turkish welcome, but I left it untouched. Then the door again opened and I was confronted by the sallow-faced, black-bearded man against whom the _kavass_ had warned me.