"I shall kill her!" said Balkis, gnashing her splendid teeth; "and I know how to kill her painfully." Jarman shuddered, so ferociously did she make this speech. He thought he would not like to offend this creature. "And you will help me to save Lancaster," he said eagerly--"to save him and baffle the Berrys?" "I do not know," she said sullenly, and heaved herself up from the chair. "If he is innocent he shall not die. If not, he shall die. Come!" "Where will you take me?" asked Eustace, following her to the door, but feeling in his hip pocket that his revolver was loose. "To my secret rooms," said Balkis, looking back with a grin. "Ah, then Mrs. Burl is right. You have secret rooms." Balkis nodded, and led him down a long passage. "And I can kill in them," she said in a matter-of-fact tone. "But not you. You are my friend." She grinned again. "I shall let you see that woman die if you like." Jarman shuddered again at the venomous tone, and in spite of his courage felt a trifle nervous. However, he had his revolver, and, if it came to the worst, resolved to fight. Now that he had launched himself into the adventure he was resolved to carry it through. He had promised Mildred to save Frank, and this was the only way to do it. Balkis could tell the truth, and he wished her to do so. The negress led him to a trap door, and they descended to find themselves in a long stone passage. At the end of it was an iron door, which she opened. Eustace was conscious of a blaze of light, and in the glare saw--of all people--Tamaroo and Frank Lancaster! CHAPTER XXIV TAMAROO SPEAKS "You did not expect to find me here?" said Frank, after he had shaken hands warmly with his friend. "The very last place in which I should have looked for you. How did you come?" He glanced inquiringly at Tamaroo. "I brought him," replied the old negro. "When you overturned the lamp I drew Mr. Frank away in the darkness. We went to the nearest railway station and came to town. Then did we seek this shelter. The Captain will never think to find us here. What of him?" "He is furious, and quite at a loss to find you. But--" Eustace glanced at Balkis, where she stood with folded arms staring at Frank with no very pleasant expression. "There is nothing to fear," she said, guessing Jarman's meaning. "As yet I am not sure if this man killed my Walter." "I did not," interposed Frank. "I told you so before." "And I also assured you of his innocence," said Tamaroo, uneasily. Balkis still continued to glare. "As I say, I am not sure," she declared obstinately. "If you did not kill my Walter you will come to no harm. Here you can stay until I send you out of the place to foreign parts. But if you killed him"--she looked savage--"there will be no escape for you. Now you know!" And with this not very reassuring speech she passed through the door again, shutting it with a clang. Eustace heard a key turn in the lock and recalled the warning of Mrs. Burl.