Presently Ras Thavas came and examined her. “A good subject,” he said. He looked at the chart where I had made a very brief record following the other entries relative to the history of Case No. 4296-E-2631-H. Of course this is, naturally, a rather free translation of this particular identification number. The Barsoomians have no alphabet such as ours and their numbering system is quite different. The thirteen characters above were represented by four Toonolian characters, yet the meaning was quite the same—they represented, in contracted form, the case number, the room, the table and the building. “The subject will be quartered near you where you may regularly observe it,” continued Ras Thavas. “There is a chamber adjoining yours. I will see that it is unlocked. Take the subject there. When not under your observation, lock it in.” _It_ was only another _case_ to him. I took the girl, if I may so call her, to her quarters. On the way I asked her her name, for it seemed to me an unnecessary discourtesy always to address her and refer to her as 4296-E-2631-H, and this I explained to her. “It is considerate of you to think of that,” she said, “but really that is all that I am here—just another subject for vivisection.” “You are more than that to me,” I told her. “You are friendless and helpless. I want to be of service to you—to make your lot easier if I can.” “Thank you again,” she said. “My name is Valla Dia, and yours?” “Ras Thavas calls me Vad Varo,” I told her. “But that is not your name?” “My name is Ulysses Paxton.” “It is a strange name, unlike any that I have ever heard, but you are unlike any man I have ever seen—you do not seem Barsoomian. Your colour is unlike that of any race.” “I am not of Barsoom, but from Earth, the planet you sometimes call Jasoom. That is why I differ in appearance from any you have known before.” “Jasoom! There is another Jasoomian here whose fame has reached to the remotest corners of Barsoom, but I never have seen him.” “John Carter?” I asked. “Yes, The War Lord. He was of Helium and my people were not friendly with those of Helium. I never could understand how he came here. And now there is another from Jasoom—how can it be? How did you cross the great void?” I shook my head. “I cannot even guess,” I told her. “Jasoom must be peopled with wonderful men,” she said. It was a pretty compliment. “As Barsoom is with beautiful women,” I replied. She glanced down ruefully at her old and wrinkled body. “I have seen the real you,” I said gently. “I hate to think of my face,” she said. “I know it is a frightful thing.” “It is not you, remember that when you see it and do not feel too badly.” “Is it as bad as that?” she asked.