"Yes, I know that much!" Narvaez drank a glass of water, and rose with an effort as if his bones pained him. "We had better understand the situation." In spite of his mind-reading Enistor could not understand and said as much with a puzzled air. Narvaez laughed softly for a moment and then became his usual calm self. "I refer to the position on the physical plane of you and myself and those surrounding us--the flesh and blood puppets I mean with which we have to deal." "Are they puppets?" demanded Enistor dubiously. "One is not. You can guess that I mean our powerful adversary. But the others--bah!" he swept the air with one lean hand. "I think I can deal with them, if you give me your assistance." "I have promised to give it--at a price," said Enistor tartly. The guest stared at him with a sphinx-like expression. "I know your price and you shall have your price," he dropped into his chair again with an air of fatigue, and his eyes grew brighter than ever. "Listen, my friend. I came here from Spain three years ago in search of you, as I learned by my arts that you would be useful to me. You have the blood of my race in your veins, as you know, since that Spanish sailor, who was wrecked on these coasts in a galleon of the Great Armada, married your ancestress from whom you are descended." "I know all this, Master." "Quite so, but I wish to refresh your memory. I found you here a poor man----" "Which I am still," interrupted Enistor gloomily. "Of course. The time is not yet ripe for you to gain your wish!" "My wish! my wish!" the host rose and raised his arms, with a fierce look on his powerful face. "When will it be gratified? I want money--a large amount--thousands of pounds, since money means power." "And power is the real thing you desire. The money, as we know, is only the means to obtain that power. You wish to influence men at all costs; to rule the masses; to be famous as a leader!" The sneer with which Narvaez made this speech irritated Enistor, although he was sufficiently educated in mystic lore to be aware how important absolute self-command is to those who deal with occultism. That is, he knew such was the case, more or less, but could never attain to the necessary calm. "It is not a contemptible ambition," he snarled savagely. "Our adversary of the Right-hand Path would say so," rejoined Narvaez coolly, "since you desire power and rule and money in order to gratify Self." "I never knew that you worked for other people, Narvaez," sneered Enistor. The Spaniard smiled coldly. "I don't, I never shall. I strive, as you do, for power, and, thanks to my knowledge, I have more than you, although it is not enough to content me. It is because your aims are the same as mine that we can work together. But Alice does not desire anything and that is what baffles both of us." "In that case, she is useless to you, Master, and therefore it is no good your marrying her."