has
guarded me as only the women of the East are guarded. Yet, in his
fierce way, he has always tried to befriend me, he has always been
faithful. But ah! I shrink from him many times, in horror, because I
know _what_ he is! But I may not tell you. Look! Chunda Lal has never
been out of sound of this whistle"--she drew a little silver whistle
from her dress--"for a moment since that day when he came into the
house of the slave-dealer in Mecca, except----"

And now, suddenly, a wave of glorious colour flooded her beautiful
face and swiftly she lowered her eyes, replacing the little whistle.
Stuart's rebellious heart leapt madly, for whatever he might think
of her almost incredible story, that sweet blush was no subterfuge,
no product of acting.

"You almost drive me mad," he said in low voice, resembling the tones
of repressed savagery. "You tell me so much, but withhold so much
that I am more bewildered than ever. I can understand your
helplessness in an Eastern household, but why should you obey the
behests of this veiled monster in London, in New York, in Paris?"

She did not raise her eyes.

"I dare not tell you. But I dare not disobey him."

"Who is he!"

"No one knows, because no one has ever seen his face! Ah! you are
laughing! But I swear before heaven I speak the truth! Indoors he
wears a Chinese dress and a green veil. In passing from place to place,
which he always does at night, he is attired in a kind of cowl which
only exposes his eyes----"

"But how _can_ such a fantastic being travel?"

"By road, on land, and in a steam yacht, at sea. Why should _you_
doubt my honesty?" She suddenly raises her glance to Stuart's face and
he saw that she had grown pale. "I have risked what I cannot tell you,
and more than once--for you! I tried to call you on the telephone on
the night that he set out from the house near Hampton Court to kill
you, but I could get no reply, and----"

"Stop!" said Stuart, almost too exited to note at the time that she
had betrayed a secret. "It was _you_ who rang up that night?

"Yes. Why did you not answer?"

"Never mind. Your call saved my life. I shall not forget." He looked
into her eyes. "But can you not tell me what it all means? What or
whom is 'The Scorpion'?"

She flinched.

"The Scorpion is--a passport. See." From a little pocket in the coat
of her costume she drew out a golden scorpion! "I have one." She
replaced it hurriedly. "I dare not, dare not tell you more