Knowing, as she did, the craftiness of her brother, the Shadow Witch heard his message with distrust. She knew that if he had discovered that it was by her help that the prince had escaped him and that evil had been brought upon himself, it would go hard with her once she was in his power. Therefore, she determined, before she yielded to his request, to learn from his servant whether or not he suspected her of what she had done. So she bent a searching gaze upon the Chief Imp and began to question him. “Tell me,” she commanded, “what is this sickness from which your master suffers, and what is its cause?” The Imp hastened to inform her. “A strange prince penetrated the Cave of Darkness, a short time since. For reasons of his own, the Wizard sought to overpower him with the spell of his Urn of Vapors, but the prince, who had come upon him without warning, suddenly flashed about him a magic weapon, the Sword of Flames, that instantly took from my master all power to protect himself. He cried aloud to us, and at once we hurried him away to an inner chamber, far from its dreadful sway. There he lay for a time insensible, and we feared for his life, but at length, tended by his servants, he became able to move a little, and, at last, even to speak. But that is all.” “What has become of this prince and his magic sword?” demanded the Shadow Witch, watching him yet more closely. “Have you permitted him to escape with it unharmed?” “Ah, madam,” the Chief Imp replied, “When we came to seek him, to wreak vengeance upon him, he had vanished and had left no trace.” “Had this prince no servants, no companions?” insisted she. “None who guided him to my brother’s cavern?” “Nay,” he assured her, “the prince was quite alone.” The Shadow Witch asked him no further questions, but stood silent, pondering deeply whether or no she should grant the Wizard’s request. She herself had seen him overcome by the fairy sword, had seen the prince depart in safety, but that her brother trusted to any magic of her own to restore him, she greatly doubted. Still, she believed that there could be no grave danger to herself in going to him. Never, even in the fulness of his power, had he been able to really injure her. Why should she fear him now, when he was helpless. Besides, from what the Imp had said, it was not known that she had guided and protected the prince. Therefore she had no cause for uneasiness. She turned to where the Chief Imp waited, regarding her with his crafty eyes. “Go back to your master,” she bade him. “Say to him that I will come shortly to render him what aid I can.” Well pleased at the result of his errand, the Chief Imp departed.