To Jane this girl of another world was at once interesting, surprising and baffling. Jane could only look upon her as an enemy. In Jane's mind there was no thought save that we must escape, and frustrate Tako's attack upon New York; and she was impulsive, youthful enough to think something might be contrived. At all events, she saw Tolla in the light of an enemy who might be tricked into giving information. Jane admits that her ideas were quite as vague as our own when it came to planning anything definite. She at first studied Tolla, who seemed as young as herself and perhaps in her own world, was as beautiful. And within an hour or two she was surprised at Tolla's friendliness. They had dined together, gazed through the windows at the speeding shadows of the strange world sliding past; they had dozed together on the couch. During all this they could have been schoolgirl friends. Not captor and captive upon these strange weird circumstances of actuality, but friends of one world. And in outward aspect Tolla could fairly well have been a cultured girl of our Orient. * * * * * Then Jane got a shock. She tried careful questions. And Tolla skillfully avoided everything that touched in any way upon Tako's future plans. Yet her apparent friendliness, and a certain girlish volubility continued. And then, at one point, Tolla asked: "Are you beautiful in Bermuda?" "Why, yes," said Jane. "I guess so." "I am beautiful in my world. Tako has said so." "You love him, don't you?" Jane said abruptly. "Yes. That is true." There was no hint of embarrassment. Her pale blue eyes stared at Jane, and she smiled a little quizzically. "Does it show so quickly upon my face that you saw it at once? I am called Tolla because I am pledged soon to enter Tako's harem." Upon impulse Jane put her arm around the other girl as they sat on the couch. "I think he is very nice." But she saw it was an error. The shadow of a frown came upon Tolla's face; a glint of fire clouded her pale, serene eyes. "He will be the greatest man of his world," she said quietly. * * * * * There was an awkward silence. "The harem, I am told," Jane said presently, "is one of your customs." She took a plunge. "And Tako told us why they want our Earth girls. There was one of my friends stolen from Bermuda--" "And yet you call him very nice," Tolla interrupted with sudden irony. "Girls are frank in our world. But you are not. What did you mean by that?" "I was trying to be friendly," said Jane calmly. "You had just said you loved him." "But you do not love him?" It took Jane wholly back. "Good Heavens, no!" "But he--might readily love you?"