es sought mine--and found
them.

I felt a tug at my arm, but I had no time for Harry then. I was
looking at Desiree, and what I saw caused a cold shudder to flutter
through my body. Not of fear; it was the utter surprise of the
thing--its incredible horror. To die by the hands of those hairy
brutes was not hard, but Desiree to be the judge!

For she meant death for us; I read it in her eyes. One of the old
stale proverbs of the stale old world was to have another
justification. I repeat that I was astounded, taken completely by
surprise; and yet I had known something of "the fury of a woman
scorned."

It was as though our eyes shot out to meet each other in an embrace of
death. She saw that I understood and she smiled--what a smile! It was
triumphant, and yet sad; a vengeance, and a farewell. She put forth
her hand.

It wavered among the quipos as though uncertainly, then closed firmly
on the black cord of death.

A thought flashed through my mind with the speed of lightning. I
raised my voice and sang out:

"Desiree!"

She hesitated; the hand which held the knife fell to her side and again
her eyes sought mine.

"What of Harry?" I called. "Take two--the white for him, the black for
me."

She shook her head and again raised the knife; and I played my last
card.

"Bah! Who are you? For you are not Le Mire!" I weighted my voice with
contempt. "Le Mire is a child of fortune, but not of hell!"

At last she spoke.

"I play a fair hand, monsieur!" she cried, and her voice trembled.

"With marked cards!" I exclaimed scornfully. "The advantage is yours,
madame; may you find pleasure in it."

There was a silence, while our eyes met. I thought I had lost. Le
Mire stood motionless. Not a sound came from the audience. I felt
Harry pulling at my arm, but shook myself free, without taking my eyes
from Le Mire's face.

Suddenly she spoke:

"You are right, my friend Paul. I take no advantage. Leave it to
Fortune. Have you a coin?"

I had won my chance. That was all--a chance--but that was better than
nothing. I took a silver peseta from my pocket--by luck it had not
been lost--and held it in the air above my head.

"Heads!" cried Desiree.

I let the coin fall. It rolled half-way across the top of the column
and stopped at the very edge. I crossed and stooped over it. It lay
heads up!

Harry was behind me; as I straightened up I saw his white, set face and
eyes of horror. He, too