There was a sound in the corridor outside the door--enough to cause Tako momentarily to swing his gaze. It broke the spell for Jane; with a shock she realized that like a snake he had been holding her fascinated. His gaze came back at once, but now she shook off his hand from her arm. "Tolla told me you--you said something like that to her," Jane said with an ironic smile. It angered him. The earnestness dropped from him like a mask. "Oh, did she? And you have been mocking me, you two girls?" * * * * * He stood up, his giant length bringing his head almost to the vaulted ceiling of the little compartment. "What degradation for Tako that women should discuss his heart." His frowning face gazed down at Jane; there was on it now nothing to fascinate her; instead, his gaze inspired terror. "We--we said nothing else," she stammered. "Say what you like. What is it to me? I am a man, and the clatter of women's tongues is no concern of mine." He strode to the door. From over his shoulder he said, "What I shall do with you I have not yet decided. If Tolla is interested, tell her that." "Tako, let me--I mean you do not understand--" But he was gone. Jane sat trembling. A sense of defeat was on her. Worse than that, she felt that she had done us all immeasurable harm. Tako's anger might react upon Don and me. As a matter of fact, if it did he concealed it, for we saw no change in his attitude. Tolla rejoined Jane within a moment. If Tako spoke to her outside Jane did not know it. But she was at once aware that the other girl had been listening; Tolla's face was white and grim. She came in, busied herself silently about the room. Jane turned from the window. "You heard us, Tolla?" "Yes, I heard you! You with your crooked look staring at him--" "Why, Tolla, I did not!" "I saw you! Staring at him so that he would think you beautiful! Asking him, with a boldness beyond that of any woman I could ever imagine--asking him if he planned you for his harem!" * * * * * She stood over Jane, staring down with blazing eyes. "Oh, I heard you! And I heard him telling you how noble are his motives! One woman, just for him!" "But, Tolla--" "Do not lie to me! I heard him sneering at me--telling you of this one woman just for him! And you are that woman! Hah! He thinks that now, does he? He thinks he will make you love him as I love him. As I love him! And what does he know of that! What woman's love can mean!" "Tolla! Don't be foolish. I didn't--I never had any desire to--" "What do your desires concern me? He thinks he will win you with tales of his conquests! A great man, this Tako, because he will devastate New York!" This was the fury of a woman scorned. She was wholly beside herself, her words tumbling, incoherent, beyond her will, beyond her realization of what she was saying.