o the smelling-out of savage witch-doctors.

Indeed, they all began to talk of this or that at hazard, but she was
not to be put off by such interruptions. Having investigated Godfrey
till he felt cold down the back, Madame turned her searchlight eyes
upon Miss Ogilvy, who shrank beneath them. Then of a sudden she
exclaimed with a kind of convulsive shudder:

"The Power possesses and guides me. It tells me that _you_ will be the
first, Sister Helen. I see you among the immortal Lilies with the Wine
of Life flowing through your veins."

On receipt of this information the Wine of Life seemed to cease to flow
in poor Miss Ogilvy's face. At any rate, she went deadly pale and
rested her hand upon Godfrey's shoulder as if she were about to faint.
Recovering a little, she murmured to herself:

"I thought it! Well, what does it matter though the gulf is great and
terrible?"

Then with an effort she rose and suggested that they should return to
the drawing-room.

They did so, and were served with Turkish coffee and cigarettes, which
Madame Riennes smoked one after the other very rapidly. Presently Miss
Ogilvy rang the bell, and when the butler appeared to remove the cups,
whispered something in French, at which he bowed and departed.

Godfrey thought he heard him lock the door behind him, but was not sure.

CHAPTER VI

EXPERIENCES

"Let us sit round the table and talk," said Madame Riennes.

Thereon the whole party moved into the recess where was the flower-pot
that has been mentioned, which Miss Ogilvy took away.

They seated themselves round the little table upon which it had stood.
Godfrey, lingering behind, found, whether by design or accident, that
the only place left for him was the arm-chair which he hesitated to
occupy.

"Be seated, young Monsieur," said the formidable Madame in bell-like
tones, whereon he collapsed into the chair. "Sister Helen," she went
on, "draw the curtain, it is more private so; yes, and the blind that
there may be no unholy glare."

Miss Ogilvy, who seemed to be entirely under Madame's thumb, obeyed.
Now to all intents and purposes they were in a tiny, shadowed room cut
off from the main apartment.

"Take that talisman from your neck and give it to young Monsieur
Knight," commanded Madame.

"But I gave it to her, and do not want it back," ventured Godfrey, who
was growing alarmed.

"Do what I say," she said sternly, and he found himself holding the
relic.

"Now, young