of power.
She was tall and slight, but slow in all her gestures and movements. Her
face was not beautiful. It was long, and palely lighted, while the mouth
crossed the lower half like a gash of fire. The lips were as voluptuous
as before. Her brows were heavy. There was nothing vulgar in her--she
looked the kingliest of all women. She appeared not more than
twenty-five.

Growing tired, apparently, of his scrutiny, she pushed him a little way
and allowed her arm to drop, at the same time curving her mouth into a
long, bowlike smile. "Whom have I to thank for this gift of life?"

Her voice was rich, slow, and odd. Maskull felt himself in a dream.

"My name is Maskull."

She motioned to him to come a step nearer. "Listen, Maskull. Man after
man has drawn me into the world, but they could not keep me there, for
I did not wish it. But now you have drawn me into it for all time, for
good or evil."

Maskull stretched a hand toward the now invisible corpse, and said
quietly, "What have you to say about him?"

"Who was it?"

"Haunte."

"So that was Haunte. The news will travel far and wide. He was a famous
man."

"It's a horrible affair. I can't think that you killed him
deliberately."

"We women are endowed with terrible power, but it is our only
protection. We do not want these visits; we loathe them."

"I might have died, too."

"You came together?"

"There were three of us. Corpang still stands over there."

"I see a faintly glimmering form. What do you want of me, Corpang?"

"Nothing."

"Then go away, and leave me with Maskull."

"No need, Corpang. I am coming with you."

"This is not that pleasure, then?" demanded the low, earnest voice, out
of the darkness.

"No, that pleasure has not returned."

Sullenbode gripped his arm hard. "What pleasure are you speaking of?"

"A presentiment of love, which I felt not long ago."

"But what do you feel now?"

"Calm and free."

Sullenbode's face seemed like a pallid mask, hiding a slow, swelling sea
of elemental passions. "I do not know how it will end, Maskull, but we
will still keep together a little. Where are you going?"

"To Adage," said Corpang, stepping forward.

"But why?"

"We are following the steps of Lodd, who went there years ago, to find
Muspel-light."

"It's the light of another world."

"The quest is grand. But cannot women see that light?"

"On one condition," said Corpang. "They must forget their sex. Womanhood
and love bel