that in the eyes
of the Hindu at this moment. They blazed like the eyes of a tiger, and
his teeth were bared in a savage grin which I cannot hope to describe.
His lean body seemed to shoot through the air, and he descended upon
his burly adversary as a jungle beast falls upon its prey. Those long
brown fingers clasping his neck, the Grand Duke fell forward upon his
face.

"Chunda Lal!" said the dancer.

Kneeling, his right knee thrust between the shoulder blades of the
prostrate man, the Hindu looked up--and I read murder in those glaring
eyes. That he was an accomplished wrestler--or perhaps a strangler--I
divined from the helplessness of the Grand Duke, who lay inert, robbed
of every power except that of his tongue. He was swearing savagely.

"Chunda Lal!" said Zara el-Khala again.
The Hindu shifted his grip from the neck to the arms of the Grand
Duke. He pinioned him as is done in _jiu-jitsu_ and forced him to
stand upright. It was a curious spectacle--the impotency of this burly
nobleman in the hands of his slight adversary. As they swayed to their
feet, I thought I saw the glint of metal in the right hand of the
Indian, but I could not be sure, for my attention was diverted. At
this moment Casimir appeared upon the scene, looking very frightened.

Suddenly releasing his hold altogether, the Hindu glaring into the
empurpled face of the Grand Duke, shot out one arm and pointed with a
quivering finger along the path.

"Go!" he said.

The Grand Duke clenched his fists, looked from face to face as if
calculating his chances, then shrugged his shoulders, very
deliberately wiped his neck and wrists, where the Indian had held him,
with a large silk handkerchief and threw the handkerchief on the
ground. I saw a speck of blood upon the silk. Without another glance
he walked away, Casimir following sheepishly. It is needless, perhaps,
to add that Casimir had not recognized me.

I turned to the dancer, touching the peak of my cap.

"Can I be of any assistance to mademoiselle?" I asked.

"Thank you--no," she replied.

She placed five francs in my hand and set off rapidly through the
trees in the direction of the road, her bloodthirsty but faithful
attendant at her heels!

I stood scratching my head and looking after her.

That afternoon I posted a man acquainted with Hindustani to tap any
message which might be sent to or from the cafe used by Chunda Lal.
I learned that the Grand Duke had taken a stage box at th