u are?" she told him. "You mock me--you
threaten to torture that man--it would be folly not to think that
you are deceiving me. If you would only prove to me so that I could
believe--"

"If you would but prove to _me_ so that _I_ could believe--! Prove
that you are mine--and not that infidel's. Prove that you bring me a
wife's devotion--not a wanton's indifference." He caught her cold
hands, trying to draw her forward to him. "Prove that you only pity
him," he whispered, "but that your love will be mine--"

She felt as if a serpent clasped her. And yet, if that were the only
way to win Ryder's safety--if it were possible for her sickened
senses to allay this madman's suspicions and undermine his revenge--

Quiveringly she thought that to save Ryder she would go through
fire.

But the hideous, mocking uncertainties! Her utter helplessness--her
lost deference....

It was not a sudden sound that broke in upon them but rather the
perception of many sounds, muffled, half heard, but gaining upon
their consciousness. Running feet--a stifled voice--something faint
and shrill--

Aimee sprang to her feet; the general rose with her and turned his
head inquiringly in the direction. Then he jerked open the door
through which Fatima had disappeared; it led to a dark service
corridor and small anteroom, from whose bed the attendant was
absent. An outer door was ajar.

No need to question the sounds now. Faint, but piercingly shrill
shrieks were sounding from above, while the footsteps were racing,
some down, some up--

The bey flung shut the door behind him and hurried towards the
confusion.

CHAPTER XX

BEYOND THE DOOR

Ryder had stood stock still with amazement when the girl began to
scream. She had gone mad, he thought for an instant, in masculine
bewilderment, and then her madness revealed its treacherous cunning,
for she began crying wildly for help against an invader, an infidel,
a dog of a Christian who had stolen into her rooms.

She had chucked him to the lions, Ryder perceived; one furious flash
of lightning jealousy and Oriental anger had overthrown, in that
wild and lawless head, every other design for him for which she had
risked so much.

He had scorned her.... He had flouted her caprice.... He had dared
to refuse the languors of those dangerous eyes....

The hurrying footsteps appeared to him the tread of a legion in
action, and he had no desire to rush out upon the oncomers; he had,
indeed