n, honest things.'

'They'll come back, never fear. We're at the last lap now. One more
spurt and it's over. You've got to tell me what the new snag is. Is
it that woman?'

He shivered like a frightened colt. 'Woman!' he cried. 'Does a woman
drag a man through the nether-pit? She's a she-devil. Oh, it isn't
madness that's wrong with her. She's as sane as you and as cool as
Blenkiron. Her life is an infernal game of chess, and she plays with
souls for pawns. She is evil--evil--evil.' And once more he buried
his head in his hands.

It was Blenkiron who brought sense into this hectic atmosphere. His
slow, beloved drawl was an antiseptic against nerves.

'Say, boy,' he said, 'I feel just like you about the lady. But our job
is not to investigate her character. Her Maker will do that good and
sure some day. We've got to figure how to circumvent her, and for that
you've got to tell us what exactly's been occurring since we parted
company.'

Sandy pulled himself together with a great effort.

'Greenmantle died that night I saw you. We buried him secretly by her
order in the garden of the villa. Then came the trouble about his
successor ... The four Ministers would be no party to a swindle. They
were honest men, and vowed that their task now was to make a tomb for
their master and pray for the rest of their days at his shrine. They
were as immovable as a granite hill and she knew it.... Then they,
too, died.'

'Murdered?' I gasped.

'Murdered ... all four in one morning. I do not know how, but I
helped to bury them. Oh, she had Germans and Kurds to do her foul
work, but their hands were clean compared to hers. Pity me, Dick, for
I have seen honesty and virtue put to the shambles and have abetted the
deed when it was done. It will haunt me to my dying day.'

I did not stop to console him, for my mind was on fire with his news.

'Then the prophet is gone, and the humbug is over,' I cried.

'The prophet still lives. She has found a successor.'

He stood up in his linen tunic.

'Why do I wear these clothes? Because I am Greenmantle. I am the
_Kaaba-i-hurriyeh_ for all Islam. In three days' time I will reveal
myself to my people and wear on my breast the green ephod of the
prophet.'

He broke off with an hysterical laugh. 'Only you see, I won't. I will
cut my throat first.'

'Cheer up!' said Blenkiron soothingly. 'We'll find some prettier way
than that.'

'There is no way,' he sa