"Is it necessary for you to put that into words?" demanded the older man in a mocking way; "of course I mean her innocence. That very purity which makes the girl so valuable to me is the wall which protects her from the influence I wish to exercise over her." "Constant dropping of water wears away a stone, Master." "That proverb does not apply in every case," retorted the other darkly. "I tell you that I am helpless before your daughter. I am too old for her to love me, therefore her heart is safe. She is not greedy for money, or admiration, or position, or dress, or for half a dozen things which would tempt an ordinary girl. There is no foothold to be obtained." The host cast an uneasy glance round, and his eyes grew piercing, as if he would force the invisible to become apparent. "She is guarded, we know!" Narvaez' wrinkled face grew even darker than before. "Yes, she is guarded. I am aware of the power that guards her." "So you have said several times, Master. Why not explain more fully?" "The time has not yet come to explain. If you were advanced enough to read the Akashic Records, then you might see much that would explain things." Enistor nodded gloomily. "I understand. The present situation is the outcome of the past." "Everything in life is an outcome of the past," said Narvaez, "even a neophyte such as you are should be certain of that. Cause and effect govern all things." "But if you would explain the cause, I might see how to deal with the effect, Master." "I daresay," returned the other dryly, "but in spite of my superior knowledge, I am not yet omnipotent, Enistor. I can read a trifle of the records, but not easily. There are veils before my eyes which prevent me from knowing the exact state of affairs which has brought things to this pass in this set of lives. All I can say is that you and I and your daughter, together with two other people, were in Chaldea over five thousand years ago, and the lives then are linked with the lives now. The Karma of that period has to be worked out while we are all in the flesh to-day." "Do you know who the other two people are?" asked Enistor eagerly. "I know one. He is powerful, and hostile to you and to me!" "He does not follow the Left-hand Path then?" "No. He is a White Magician. You will see him some day when the hour strikes. I am teaching you all I can so that you may be able to confront him." "I am not afraid of any one," snapped Enistor sharply. "Oh, you have courage enough," admitted Narvaez, "but knowledge must be added to that, if you are to be victorious. As to the other person who has to play a part in the working out of this Karma----" "Well! Well! Well?" "I don't know who or what he is," confessed the other. "He is a man then?"