esent that need not matter."

Zubeydeh blocked the door more formidably with her body.

"No one enters this house in the Effendi's absence."

"I do not desire to enter the house. I merely wish to talk with Yeva,
here----"

"That is not possible." The woman moved back and made a motion to close
the door, but Renwick took a pace forward and blocked her effort with
his foot.

"Wait," he said.

Something in the tone of his voice arrested her, and the hand which held
the door relaxed. She regarded Renwick with a new curiosity. Her eyes
narrowed as she peered into his face. She had seen someone who looked
like this tall beggar, but where----?

"Who are you?" she asked again, this time with a note of anxiety,
scarcely concealed.

Renwick smiled, but he had not yet removed his foot from the sill of the
door.

"You do not remember me?"

"No--and yet----" She paused in bewilderment, and Renwick quickly
followed his advantage.

"I am one who can save this house from a danger."

"Speak!"

"I have but to speak yonder," and he gestured eloquently toward the city
below them, "and the danger will fall." He leaned forward, whispering
tensely, "The secret police of the Austrian government wish to know more
about the death of Nicholas Szarvas and----"

Zubeydeh dropped the handle of the door and seized Renwick's arm, while
her narrow eyes glittered terrified close to his own.

"And you----?"

"It is merely that I did not die," he said coolly.

"You are----?"

"I am the man in the armor, Zubeydeh," he said solemnly.

She started back from him in affright, her hands before her eyes.

"Allah!" she whispered, and then leaned forward again touching his arm
lightly, imploringly, while she looked past him into the dark recesses
of the garden.

"Then they are there--the police are coming----?"

He quickly reassured her.

"No. I mean you no harm. Do you understand? I have said nothing--nor
shall I speak unless----" he paused significantly.

"Unless----?"

"Unless you refuse to permit me to speak with Yeva. That is all. Listen,
Zubeydeh; since that night I have been in the hospital. They would keep
me here a prisoner. I have escaped--in this disguise. I make a bargain
with you. You help me--I will be silent. If you refuse, I shall tell the
police."

"What do you want?" she asked breathlessly.

"A disguise, a weapon, and some money--not much."

"Money! The Effendi has gone upon a journey."

"A few _kroner_ on