第12章

Ipulledupandproposedtoinvestigate，butBlenkironverytestilydeclined。

’Zithersareascommonhereasfleas，’hesaid。’Youdon’twanttobefossickingaroundsomebody’sstablesandfindahorse—boyentertaininghisfriends。Theydon’tlikevisitorsinthiscountry;

andyou’llbeaskingfortroubleifyougoinsidethosewalls。Iguessit’ssomeoldBuzzard’sharem。’BuzzardwashisownprivatepeculiarnamefortheTurk，forhesaidhehadhadasaboyanaturalhistorybookwithapictureofabirdcalledtheturkey—buzzard，andcouldn’tgetoutofthehabitofapplyingittotheOttomanpeople。

Iwasn’tconvinced，soItriedtomarkdowntheplace。Itseemedtobeaboutthreemilesoutfromthecity，attheendofasteeplaneontheinlandsideofthehillcomingfromtheBosporus。Ifanciedsomebodyofdistinctionlivedthere，foralittlefartheronwemetabigemptymotor—carsnortingitswayup，andIhadanotionthatthecarbelongedtothewalledvilla。

NextdayBlenkironwasingrievoustroublewithhisdyspepsia。

Aboutmiddayhewascompelledtoliedown，andhavingnothingbettertodoIhadoutthehorsesagainandtookPeterwithme。ItwasfunnytoseePeterinaTurkisharmy—saddle，ridingwiththelongBoerstirrupandtheslouchofthebackveld。

Thatafternoonwasunfortunatefromthestart。Itwasnotthemistanddrizzleofthedaybefore，butastiffnortherngalewhichblewsheetsofraininourfacesandnumbedourbridlehands。Wetookthesameroad，butpushedwestofthetrench—diggingpartiesandgottoashallowvalleywithawhitevillageamongthecypresses。

Beyondthattherewasaveryrespectableroadwhichbroughtustothetopofacrestthatinclearweathermusthavegivenafineprospect。Thenweturnedourhorses，andIshapedourcoursesoastostrikethetopofthelonglanethatabuttedonthedown。I

wantedtoinvestigatethewhitevilla。

Butwehadn’tgonefaronourroadbackbeforewegotintotrouble。Itaroseoutofasheep—dog，ayellowmongrelbrutethatcameatuslikeathunderbolt。IttookaspecialfancytoPeter，andbitsavagelyathishorse’sheelsandsentitcaperingofftheroad。I

shouldhavewarnedhim，butIdidnotrealizewhatwashappening，tilltoolate。ForPeter，beingaccustomedtomongrelsinKaffirkraals，tookasummarywaywiththepest。Sinceitdespisedhiswhip，heoutwithhispistolandputabulletthroughitshead。

Theechoesoftheshothadscarcelydiedawaywhentherowbegan。Abigfellowappearedrunningtowardsus，shoutingwildly。

Iguessedhewasthedog’sowner，andproposedtopaynoattention。

Buthiscriessummonedtwootherfellows—soldiersbythelookofthem—whoclosedinonus，unslingingtheirriflesastheyran。Myfirstideawastoshowthemourheels，butIhadnodesiretobeshotintheback，andtheylookedlikemenwhowouldn’tstopshortofshooting。Sowesloweddownandfacedthem。

Theymadeassavage—lookingatrioasyouwouldwanttoavoid。

Theshepherdlookedasifhehadbeendugup，adirtyruffianwithmattedhairandabeardlikeabird’snest。Thetwosoldiersstoodstaringwithsullenfaces，fingeringtheirguns，whiletheotherchapravedandstormedandkeptpointingatPeter，whosemildeyesstaredunwinkinglyathisassailant。

ThemischiefwasthatneitherofushadawordofTurkish。I

triedGerman，butithadnoeffect。Wesatlookingatthemandtheystoodstormingatus，anditwasfastgettingdark。OnceIturnedmyhorseroundasiftoproceed，andthetwosoldiersjumpedinfrontofme。

Theyjabberedamongthemselves，andthenonesaidveryslowly:

’He……want……pounds，’andheheldupfivefingers。Theyevidentlysawbythecutofourjibthatweweren’tGermans。

’I’llbehangedifhegetsapenny，’Isaidangrily，andtheconversationlanguished。

Thesituationwasgettingserious，soIspokeawordtoPeter。

Thesoldiershadtheirrifleslooseintheirhands，andbeforetheycouldliftthemwehadthepaircoveredwithourpistols。

’Ifyoumove，’Isaid，’youaredead。’Theyunderstoodthatallrightandstoodstockstill，whiletheshepherdstoppedhisravingandtooktomutteringlikeagramophonewhentherecordisfinished。

’Dropyourguns，’Isaidsharply。’Quick，orweshoot。’

Thetone，ifnotthewords，conveyedmymeaning。Stillstaringatus，theylettheriflesslidetotheground。Thenextsecondwehadforcedourhorsesonthetopofthem，andthethreewereofflikerabbits。Isentashotovertheirheadstoencouragethem。Peterdismountedandtossedthegunsintoabitofscrubwheretheywouldtakesomefinding。

Thishold—uphadwastedtime。Bynowitwasgettingverydark，andwehadn’triddenamilebeforeitwasblacknight。Itwasanannoyingpredicament，forIhadcompletelylostmybearingsandatthebestIhadonlyafoggynotionofthelieoftheland。Thebestplanseemedtobetotryandgettothetopofariseinthehopeofseeingthelightsofthecity，butallthecountrysidewassopocketythatitwashardtostriketherightkindofrise。

WehadtotrusttoPeter’sinstinct。Iaskedhimwhereourlinelay，andhesatverystillforaminutesniffingtheair。Thenhepointedthedirection。Itwasn’twhatIwouldhavetakenmyself，butonapointlikethathewasprettynearinfallible。

Presentlywecametoalongslopewhichcheeredme。Butatthetoptherewasnolightvisibleanywhere—onlyablackvoidliketheinsideofashell。AsIstaredintothegloomitseemedtomethattherewerepatchesofdeeperdarknessthatmightbewoods。

’Thereisahousehalf—leftinfrontofus，’saidPeter。

Ipeeredtillmyeyesachedandsawnothing。

’Well，forheaven’ssake，guidemetoit，’Isaid，andwithPeterinfrontwesetoffdownthehill。

Itwasawildjourney，fordarknessclungasclosetousasavest。

Twicewesteppedintopatchesofbog，andoncemyhorsesavedhimselfbyahairfromgoingheadforwardintoagravelpit。Wegottangledupinstrandsofwire，andoftenfoundourselvesrubbingournosesagainsttreetrunks。SeveraltimesIhadtogetdownandmakeagapinbarricadesofloosestones。Butafteraridiculousamountofslippingandstumblingwefinallystruckwhatseemedthelevelofaroad，andapieceofspecialdarknessinfrontwhichturnedouttobeahighwall。

Iarguedthatallmortalwallshaddoors，sowesettogropingalongit，andpresentlyfoundagap。Therewasanoldirongateonbrokenhinges，whichweeasilypushedopen，andfoundourselvesonabackpathtosomehouse。Itwasclearlydisused，formassesofrottingleavescoveredit，andbythefeelofitunderfootitwasgrass—grown。

Wedismountednow，leadingourhorses，andafteraboutfiftyyardsthepathceasedandcameoutonawell—madecarriagedrive。

So，atleast，weguessed，fortheplacewasasblackaspitch。

Evidentlythehousecouldn’tbefaroff，butinwhichdirectionI

hadn’tanotion。

Now，Ididn’twanttobepayingcallsonanyTurkatthattimeofday。Ourjobwastofindwheretheroadopenedintothelane，forafterthatourwaytoConstantinoplewasclear。Onesidethelanelay，andtheotherthehouse，anditdidn’tseemwisetotaketheriskoftrampingupwithhorsestothefrontdoor。SoItoldPetertowaitformeattheendoftheback—road，whileIwouldprospectabit。Iturnedtotheright，myintentionbeingifIsawthelightofahousetoreturn，andwithPetertaketheotherdirection。

Iwalkedlikeablindmaninthatnether—pitofdarkness。Theroadseemedwellkept，andthesoftwetgravelmuffledthesoundsofmyfeet。Greattreesoverhungit，andseveraltimesIwanderedintodrippingbushes。AndthenIstoppedshortinmytracks，forI

heardthesoundofwhistling。

Itwasquiteclose，abouttenyardsaway。AndthestrangethingwasthatitwasatuneIknew，aboutthelasttuneyouwouldexpecttohearinthispartoftheworld。ItwastheScotsair:’Ca’theyowestotheknowes，’whichwasafavouriteofmyfather’s。

Thewhistlermusthavefeltmypresence，fortheairsuddenlystoppedinthemiddleofabar。Anunboundedcuriosityseizedmetoknowwhothefellowcouldbe。SoIstartedinandfinisheditmyself。

Therewassilenceforasecond，andthentheunknownbeganagainandstopped。OncemoreIchippedinandfinishedit。

Thenitseemedtomethathewascomingnearer。Theairinthatdanktunnelwasverystill，andIthoughtIheardalightfoot。I

thinkItookastepbackward。Suddenlytherewasaflashofanelectrictorchfromayardoff，soquickthatIcouldseenothingofthemanwhoheldit。

Thenalowvoicespokeoutofthedarkness—avoiceIknewwell—and，followingit，ahandwaslaidonmyarm。’Whatthedevilareyoudoinghere，Dick？’itsaid，andtherewassomethinglikeconsternationinthetone。

Itoldhiminahecticsentence，forIwasbeginningtofeelbadlyrattledmyself。

’You’veneverbeeningreaterdangerinyourlife，’saidthevoice。

’GreatGod，man，whatbroughtyouwanderingheretodayofalldays？’

YoucanimaginethatIwasprettyscared，forSandywasthelastmantoputacasetoohigh。AndthenextsecondIfeltworse，forheclutchedmyarmanddraggedmeinaboundtothesideoftheroad。Icouldseenothing，butIfeltthathisheadwasscrewedround，andminefollowedsuit。Andthere，adozenyardsoff，weretheacetylenelightsofabigmotor—car。

Itcamealongveryslowly，purringlikeagreatcat，whilewepressedintothebushes。Theheadlightsseemedtospreadafanfartoeitherside，showingthefullwidthofthedriveanditsborders，andabouthalftheheightoftheover—archingtrees。Therewasafigureinuniformsittingbesidethechauffeur，whomIsawdimlyinthereflexglow，butthebodyofthecarwasdark。

Itcrepttowardsus，passed，andmymindwasjustgettingeasyagainwhenitstopped。Aswitchwassnappedwithin，andthelimousinewasbrightlylitup。InsideIsawawoman’sfigure。

Theservanthadgotoutandopenedthedoorandavoicecamefromwithin—aclearsoftvoicespeakinginsometongueIdidn’tunderstand。Sandyhadstartedforwardatthesoundofit，andI

followedhim。Itwouldneverdoformetobecaughtskulkinginthebushes。

IwassodazzledbythesuddennessoftheglarethatatfirstI

blinkedandsawnothing。ThenmyeyesclearedandIfoundmyselflookingattheinsideofacarupholsteredinsomesoftdove—colouredfabric，andbeautifullyfinishedoffinivoryandsilver。Thewomanwhosatinithadamantillaofblacklaceoverherheadandshoulders，andwithoneslenderjewelledhandshekeptitsfoldoverthegreaterpartofherface。Isawonlyapairofpalegrey—blueeyes—theseandtheslimfingers。

IrememberthatSandywasstandingveryuprightwithhishandsonhiships，bynomeanslikeaservantinthepresenceofhismistress。Hewasafinefigureofamanatalltimes，butinthosewildclothes，withhisheadthrownbackandhisdarkbrowsdrawnbelowhisskull—cap，helookedlikesomesavagekingoutofanolderworld。HewasspeakingTurkish，andglancingatmenowandthenasifangryandperplexed。Itookthehintthathewasnotsupposedtoknowanyothertongue，andthathewasaskingwhothedevilImightbe。

Thentheybothlookedatme，Sandywiththeslowunwinkingstareofthegipsy，theladywiththosecurious，beautifulpaleeyes。

Theyranovermyclothes，mybrand—newriding—breeches，mysplashedboots，mywide—brimmedhat。Itookoffthelastandmademybestbow。

’Madam，’Isaid，’Ihavetoaskpardonfortrespassinginyourgarden。Thefactis，Iandmyservant—he’sdowntheroadwiththehorsesandIguessyounoticedhim—thetwoofuswentforaridethisafternoon，andgotgoodandwelllost。Wecameinbyyourbackgate，andIwasprospectingforyourfrontdoortofindsomeonetodirectus，whenIbumpedintothisbrigand—chiefwhodidn’tunderstandmytalk。I’mAmerican，andI’mhereonabigGovernmentproposition。Ihatetotroubleyou，butifyou’dsendamantoshowushowtostrikethecityI’dbeverymuchinyourdebt。’

Hereyesneverleftmyface。’Willyoucomeintothecar？’shesaidinEnglish。’AtthehouseIwillgiveyouaservanttodirectyou。’

Shedrewintheskirtsofherfurcloaktomakeroomforme，andinmymuddybootsandsoppingclothesItooktheseatshepointedout。ShesaidawordinTurkishtoSandy，switchedoffthelight，andthecarmovedon。

Womenhadnevercomemuchmyway，andIknewaboutasmuchoftheirwaysasIknewabouttheChineselanguage。AllmylifeIhadlivedwithmenonly，andratheraroughcrowdatthat。

WhenImademypileandcamehomeIlookedtoseealittlesociety，butIhadfirstthebusinessoftheBlackStoneonmyhands，andthenthewar，somyeducationlanguished。Ihadneverbeeninamotor—carwithaladybefore，andIfeltlikeafishonadrysandbank。Thesoftcushionsandthesubtlescentsfilledmewithacuteuneasiness。Iwasn’tthinkingnowaboutSandy’sgravewords，oraboutBlenkiron’swarning，oraboutmyjobandthepartthiswomanmustplayinit。IwasthinkingonlythatIfeltmortallyshy。

Thedarknessmadeitworse。Iwassurethatmycompanionwaslookingatmeallthetimeandlaughingatmeforaclown。

Thecarstoppedandatallservantopenedthedoor。TheladywasoverthethresholdbeforeIwasatthestep。Ifollowedherheavily，thewetsquelchingfrommyfield—boots。AtthatmomentInoticedthatshewasverytall。

Sheledmethroughalongcorridortoaroomwheretwopillarsheldlampsintheshapeoftorches。Theplacewasdarkbutfortheirglow，anditwasaswarmasahothousefrominvisiblestoves。Ifeltsoftcarpetsunderfoot，andonthewallshungsometapestryorrugofanamazinglyintricategeometricalpattern，butwitheverystrandasrichasjewels。There，betweenthepillars，sheturnedandfacedme。Herfurswerethrownback，andtheblackmantillahadslippeddowntohershoulders。

’Ihaveheardofyou，’shesaid。’YouarecalledRichardHanau，theAmerican。Whyhaveyoucometothisland？’

’Tohaveashareinthecampaign，’Isaid。’I’manengineer，andI

thoughtIcouldhelpoutwithsomebusinesslikeMesopotamia。’

’YouareonGermany’sside？’sheasked。

’Why，yes，’Ireplied。’WeAmericansaresupposedtobenootrals，andthatmeanswe’refreetochooseanysidewefancy。I’mfortheKaiser。’

Hercooleyessearchedme，butnotinsuspicion。Icouldseeshewasn’ttroublingwiththequestionwhetherIwasspeakingthetruth。Shewassizingmeupasaman。Icannotdescribethatcalmappraisinglook。Therewasnosexinit，nothingevenofthatimplicitsympathywithwhichonehumanbeingexplorestheexistenceofanother。Iwasachattel，athinginfinitelyremovedfromintimacy。EvensoIhavemyselflookedatahorsewhichIthoughtofbuying，scanninghisshouldersandhocksandpaces。EvensomusttheoldlordsofConstantinoplehavelookedattheslaveswhichthechancesofwarbroughttotheirmarkets，assessingtheirusefulnessforsometaskorotherwithnothoughtofahumanitycommontopurchasedandpurchaser。Andyet—notquite。Thiswoman’seyeswereweighingme，notforanyspecialduty，butformyessentialqualities。IfeltthatIwasunderthescrutinyofonewhowasaconnoisseurinhumannature。

IseeIhavewrittenthatIknewnothingaboutwomen。Buteverymanhasinhisbonesaconsciousnessofsex。Iwasshyandperturbed，buthorriblyfascinated。Thisslimwoman，poisedexquisitelylikesomestatuebetweenthepillaredlights，withherfaircloudofhair，herlongdelicateface，andherpalebrighteyes，hadtheglamourofawilddream。Ihatedherinstinctively，hatedherintensely，butIlongedtoarouseherinterest。Tobevaluedcoldlybythoseeyeswasanoffencetomymanhood，andIfeltantagonismrisingwithinme。Iamastrongfellow，wellsetup，andratherabovetheaverageheight，andmyirritationstiffenedmefromheeltocrown。Iflungmyheadbackandgavehercoolglanceforcoolglance，prideagainstpride。

Once，Iremember，adoctoronboardshipwhodabbledinhypnotismtoldmethatIwasthemostunsympatheticpersonhehadeverstruck。HesaidIwasaboutasgoodamesmericsubjectasTableMountain。SuddenlyIbegantorealizethatthiswomanwastryingtocastsomespelloverme。Theeyesgrewlargeandluminous，andIwasconsciousforjustaninstantofsomewillbattlingtosubjectmine。Iwasaware，too，inthesamemomentofastrangescentwhichrecalledthatwildhourinKuprasso’sgarden—house。Itpassedquickly，andforasecondhereyesdrooped。Iseemedtoreadinthemfailure，andyetakindofsatisfaction，too，asiftheyhadfoundmoreinmethantheyexpected。

’Whatlifehaveyouled？’thesoftvoicewassaying。

Iwasabletoanswerquitenaturally，rathertomysurprise。’I

havebeenaminingengineerupanddowntheworld。’

’Youhavefaceddangermanytimes？’

’Ihavefaceddanger。’

’Youhavefoughtwithmeninbattles？’

’Ihavefoughtinbattles。’

Herbosomroseandfellinakindofsigh。Asmile—averybeautifulthing—flittedoverherface。Shegavemeherhand。

’Thehorsesareatthedoornow，’shesaid，’andyourservantiswiththem。Oneofmypeoplewillguideyoutothecity。’

Sheturnedawayandpassedoutofthecircleoflightintothedarknessbeyond……

PeterandIjoggedhomeintherainwithoneofSandy’sskin—

cladCompanionslopingatourside。Wedidnotspeakaword，formythoughtswererunninglikehoundsonthetrackofthepasthours。IhadseenthemysteriousHildavonEinem，Ihadspokentoher，Ihadheldherhand。ShehadinsultedmewiththesubtlestofinsultsandyetIwasnotangry。SuddenlythegameIwasplayingbecameinvestedwithatremendoussolemnity。Myoldantagonists，StummandRastaandthewholeGermanEmpire，seemedtoshrinkintothebackground，leavingonlytheslimwomanwithherinscrutablesmileanddevouringeyes。’Madandbad，’Blenkironhadcalledher，’butprincipallybad。’Ididnotthinktheyweretheproperterms，fortheybelongedtothenarrowworldofourcommonexperience。Thiswassomethingbeyondandaboveit，asacycloneoranearthquakeisoutsidethedecentroutineofnature。Madandbadshemightbe，butshewasalsogreat。

Beforewearrivedourguidehadpluckedmykneeandspokensomewordswhichhehadobviouslygotbyheart。’TheMastersays，’ranthemessage，’expecthimatmidnight。’

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

AnEmbarrassedToiletIwassoakedtothebone，andwhilePetersetofftolookfordinnerI

wenttomyroomtochange。Ihadarubdownandthengotintopyjamasforsomedumb—bellexerciseswithtwochairs，forthatlongwetridehadstiffenedmyarmandshouldermuscles。Theywereavulgarsuitofprimitiveblue，whichBlenkironhadlootedfrommyLondonwardrobe。

AsCornelisBrandtIhadsportedaflannelnightgown。

Mybedroomopenedoffthesitting—room，andwhileIwasbusywithmygymnasticsIheardthedooropen。IthoughtatfirstitwasBlenkiron，butthebrisknessofthetreadwasunlikehismeasuredgait。Ihadleftthelightburningthere，andthevisitor，whoeverhewas，hadmadehimselfathome。Islippedonagreendressing—gownBlenkironhadlentme，andsalliedforthtoinvestigate。

MyfriendRastawasstandingbythetable，onwhichhehadlaidanenvelope。Helookedroundatmyentranceandsaluted。

’IcomefromtheMinisterofWar，sir，’hesaid，’andbringyouyourpassportsfortomorrow。Youwilltravelby……’Andthenhisvoicetailedawayandhisblackeyesnarrowedtoslits。Hehadseensomethingwhichswitchedhimoffthemetals。

AtthatmomentIsawittoo。Therewasamirroronthewallbehindhim，andasIfacedhimIcouldnothelpseeingmyreflection。

ItwastheexactimageoftheengineerontheDanubeboat—bluejeans，lodencloak，andall。TheaccursedmischanceofmycostumehadgivenhimthecluetoanidentitywhichwasotherwiseburieddeepintheBosporus。

IamboundtosayforRastathathewasamanofquickaction。

Inatricehehadwhippedroundtotheothersideofthetablebetweenmeandthedoor，wherehestoodregardingmewickedly。

BythistimeIwasatthetableandstretchedoutahandfortheenvelope。Myonehopewasnonchalance。

’Sitdown，sir，’Isaid，’andhaveadrink。It’safilthynighttomoveaboutin。’

’Thankyou，no，HerrBrandt，’hesaid。’Youmayburnthesepassportsfortheywillnotbeused。’

’Whatever’sthematterwithyou？’Icried。’You’vemistakenthehouse，mylad。I’mcalledHanau—RichardHanau—andmypartner’sMrJohnS。Blenkiron。He’llbeherepresently。NeverknewanyoneofthenameofBrandt，barringatobacconistinDenverCity。’

’YouhaveneverbeentoRustchuk？’hesaidwithasneer。

’NotthatIknowof。But，pardonme，Sir，ifIaskyournameandyourbusinesshere。I’mdarnedifI’maccustomedtobecalledbyDutchnamesorhavemyworddoubted。Inmycountryweconsiderthatimpoliteasbetweengentlemen。’

Icouldseethatmybluffwashavingitseffect。Hisstarebegantowaver，andwhenhenextspokeitwasinamoreciviltone。

’IwillaskpardonifI’mmistaken，Sir，butyou’retheimageofamanwhoaweekagowasatRustchuk，amanmuchwantedbytheImperialGovernment。’

’AweekagoIwastossinginadirtylittlehookercomingfromConstanza。UnlessRustchuk’sinthemiddleoftheBlackSeaI’venevervisitedthetownship。Iguessyou’rebarkingupthewrongtree。Cometothinkofit，Iwasexpectingpassports。Say，doyoucomefromEnverDamad？’

’Ihavethathonour，’hesaid。

’Well，Enverisaverygoodfriendofmine。He’sthebrightestcitizenI’vestruckthissideoftheAtlantic。’

Themanwascalmingdown，andinanotherminutehissuspicionswouldhavegone。Butatthatmoment，bythecrookedestkindofluck，Peterenteredwithatrayofdishes。HedidnotnoticeRasta，andwalkedstraighttothetableandplumpeddownhisburdenonit。TheTurkhadsteppedasideathisentrance，andIsawbythelookinhiseyesthathissuspicionshadbecomeacertainty。ForPeter，strippedtoshirtandbreeches，wastheidenticalshabbylittlecompanionoftheRustchukmeeting。

IhadneverdoubtedRasta’spluck。Hejumpedforthedoorandhadapistoloutinatricepointingatmyhead。

’_Bonne_fortune，’hecried。’Boththebirdsatoneshot。’Hishandwasonthelatch，andhismouthwasopentocry。Iguessedtherewasanorderlywaitingonthestairs。

Hehadwhatyoucallthestrategicadvantage，forhewasatthedoorwhileIwasattheotherendofthetableandPeteratthesideofitatleasttwoyardsfromhim。Theroadwasclearbeforehim，andneitherofuswasarmed。Imadeadespairingstepforward，notknowingwhatImeanttodo，forIsawnolight。ButPeterwasbeforeme。

Hehadneverletgoofthetray，andnow，asaboyskimsastoneonapond，heskimmeditwithitscontentsatRasta’shead。Themanwasopeningthedoorwithonehandwhilehekeptmecoveredwiththeother，andhegotthecontrivancefairlyintheface。A

pistolshotcrackedout，andthebulletwentthroughthetray，butthenoisewasdrownedinthecrashofglassesandcrockery。ThenextsecondPeterhadwrenchedthepistolfromRasta’shandandhadgrippedhisthroat。

AdandifiedYoungTurk，broughtupinParisandfinishedinBerlin，maybeasbraveasalion，buthecannotstandinarough—

and—tumbleagainstabackveldhunter，thoughmorethandoublehisage。Therewasnoneedformetohelphim。Peterhadhisownway，learnedinawildschool，ofknockingthesenseoutofafoe。Hegaggedhimscientifically，andtrussedhimupwithhisownbeltandtwostrapsfromatrunkinmybedroom。

’Thismanistoodangeroustoletgo，’hesaid，asifhisprocedurewerethemostordinarythingintheworld。’Hewillbequietnowtillwehavetimetomakeaplan。’

Atthatmomenttherecameaknockingatthedoor。Thatisthesortofthingthathappensinmelodrama，justwhenthevillainhasfinishedoffhisjobneatly。Thecorrectthingtodoistopaletotheteeth，andwitharolling，conscience—strickeneyeglareroundthehorizon。ButthatwasnotPeter’sway。

’We’dbettertidyupifwe’retohavevisitors，’

hesaidcalmly。

NowtherewasoneofthosebigoakGermancupboardsagainstthewallwhichmusthavebeenbroughtininsections，forcompleteitwouldneverhavegotthroughthedoor。Itwasemptynow，butforBlenkiron’shatbox。InithedepositedtheunconsciousRasta，andturnedthekey。’There’senoughventilationthroughthetop，’

heobserved，’tokeeptheairgood。’Thenheopenedthedoor。

Amagnificentkavassinblueandsilverstoodoutside。Hesalutedandprofferedacardonwhichwaswritteninpencil，’HildavonEinem’。

Iwouldhavebeggedfortimetochangemyclothes，buttheladywasbehindhim。Isawtheblackmantillaandtherichsablefurs。

PetervanishedthroughmybedroomandIwaslefttoreceivemyguestinaroomlitteredwithbrokenglassandasenselessmaninthecupboard。

Therearesomesituationssocrazilyextravagantthattheykeyupthespirittomeetthem。Iwasalmostlaughingwhenthatstatelyladysteppedovermythreshold。

’Madam，’Isaid，withabowthatshamedmyolddressing—gownandstridentpyjamas。’Youfindmeatadisadvantage。Icamehomesoakingfrommyride，andwasintheactofchanging。Myservanthasjustupsetatrayofcrockery，andIfearthisroom’snofitplaceforalady。Allowmethreeminutestomakemyselfpresentable。’

Sheinclinedherheadgravelyandtookaseatbythefire。Iwentintomybedroom，andasIexpectedfoundPeterlurkingbytheotherdoor。InahecticsentenceIbadehimgetRasta’sorderlyoutoftheplaceonanypretext，andtellhimhismasterwouldreturnlater。ThenIhurriedintodecentgarments，andcameouttofindmyvisitorinabrownstudy。

Atthesoundofmyentranceshestartedfromherdreamandstooduponthehearthrug，slippingthelongrobeoffurfromherslimbody。

’Wearealone？’shesaid。’Wewillnotbedisturbed？’

Thenaninspirationcametome。IrememberedthatFrauvonEinem，accordingtoBlenkiron，didnotseeeyetoeyewiththeYoungTurks;andIhadaqueerinstinctthatRastacouldnotbetoherliking。SoIspokethetruth。

’Imusttellyouthatthere’sanotherguestheretonight。Ireckonhe’sfeelingprettyuncomfortable。Atpresenthe’strusseduponashelfinthatcupboard。’

Shedidnottroubletolookround。

’Ishedead？’sheaskedcalmly。

’Bynomeans，’Isaid，’buthe’sfixedsohecan’tspeak，andI

guesshecan’thearmuch。’

’Hewasthemanwhobroughtyouthis？’sheasked，pointingtotheenvelopeonthetablewhichborethebigbluestampoftheMinistryofWar。

’Thesame，’Isaid。’I’mnotperfectlysureofhisname，butI

thinktheycallhimRasta。’

Notaflickerofasmilecrossedherface，butIhadafeelingthatthenewspleasedher。