ing doubt might be removed that I
afforded you the opportunity of interviewing my guest. But whatever
surprise his ingenuity, aided by your woman's wit, has planned for
Chunda Lal, I dare to believe that Chunda Lal, being forewarned, will
meet successfully. He is expecting an attempt, by Dr. Stuart, to leave
this house. He has my orders to detain him."

At that, anger conquered terror in the heart of Miska, and:

"You mean he has your orders to kill him!" she cried desperately.

Fo-Hi closed the door.

"On the contrary, he has my orders to take every possible care of him.
Those blind, tempestuous passions which merely make a woman more
desirable find no place in the trained mind of the scientist. That
Dr. Stuart covets my choicest possession in no way detracts from his
value to my Council."

Miska had never moved from the doorway by which Stuart had gone out;
and now, having listened covertly and heard no outcry, her faith in
Chunda Lal was restored. Her wonderful eyes narrowed momentarily, and
she spoke with the guile, which seems so naive, of the Oriental woman.

"I care nothing for him--this Dr. Stuart. But he had done you no
wrong----"

"Beyond seeking my death--none. I have already said"--the eyes of
Fo-Hi gleamed through the hideous veil--"that I bear him no ill will."

"But you plan to carry him to China--like those others."

"I assign him a part in the New Renaissance--yes. In the Deluge that
shall engulf the world, his place is in the Ark. I honor him."

"Perhaps he rather remain a--nobody--than be so honored."

"In his present state of imperfect understanding it is quite
possible," said Fo-Hi smoothly. "But if he refuses to achieve
greatness he must have greatness thrust upon him. Van Rembold, I seem
to recall, hesitated for some time to direct his genius to the problem
of producing radium in workable quantities from the pitchblend
deposits of Ho-Nan. But the _split rod_ had not been applied to the
soles of his feet more than five times ere he reviewed his prejudices
and found them to be surmountable."

Miska, knowing well the moods of the monstrous being whose unveiled
face she had never seen, was not deceived by the suavity of his
manner. Nevertheless, she fought down her terror, knowing how much
might depend upon her retaining her presence of mind. How much of her
interview with Stuart he had overheard she did not know, nor how much
he had witnessed.

"But," she said, moving away from him, "