ou,
but I can't help it. You are so evidently frightened."

"Who wouldn't be frightened?" I answered, looking with gloomy
apprehension at the sandal-wood box which had appeared upon a case full
of scarabs. "Look here, Lady Ragnall," I added, "why can't you leave all
this unholy business alone and let us spend a pleasant evening talking,
now that those Smith people have gone? I have lots of stories about my
African adventures which would interest you."

"Because I want to hear my own African adventures, and perhaps yours
too, which I am sure will interest me a great deal more," she exclaimed
earnestly. "You think it is all foolishness, but it is not. Those Kendah
priestesses told me much when I seemed to be out of my mind. For a long
time I did not remember what they said, but of late years, especially
since George and I began to excavate that temple, plenty has come back
to me bit by bit, fragments, you know, that make me desire to learn the
rest as I never desired anything else on earth. And the worst of it has
always been that from the beginning I have known--and know--that this
can only happen with you and through you, why I cannot say, or have
forgotten. That's what sent me nearly wild with joy when I heard that
you were not only alive, but in this country. You won't disappoint me,
will you? There is nothing I can offer you which would have any value
for you, so I can only beg you not to disappoint me--well, because I am
your friend."

I turned away my head, hesitating, and when I looked up again I saw
that her beautiful eyes were full of tears. Naturally that settled the
matter, so I only said,

"Let us get on with the affair. What am I to do? Stop a bit. I may as
well provide against eventualities," and going to a table I took a sheet
of notepaper and wrote:

"Lady Ragnall and I, Allan Quatermain, are about to make an
experiment with an herb which we discovered some years ago in
Africa. If by any chance this should result in accident to either
or both of us, the Coroner is requested to understand that it is
not a case of murder or of suicide, but merely of unfortunate
scientific research."

This I dated, adding the hour, 9.47 P.M., and signed, requesting her to
do the same.

She obeyed with a smile, saying it was strange that one who had lived a
life of such constant danger as myself, should be so afraid to die.

"Look here, young lady," I replied with irritation, "doesn't it occur to
you