to me. Trust me, child, I am bringing
you the love of which you have dreamed. Ha! Ha! _Le Dieu, c'est moi!_"

The clanking of the chain which he carried stilled her voice. It hushed
even the thunder of her heart. She rose and waited patiently while the
manacle was affixed to her wrist. The prince crossed the room and tapped
on the door, which opened, and by a faint light from without Bertha
discovered two men carrying a third into the room. She strained her
eyes, but could make out no faces. The burden was laid on the floor; a
metallic sound told her that she was fettered to the unknown.

The prince said: "You are a brave girl. All may yet be well. Then human
nature is finer than I think. We shall see. As for your lover, your gift
from God, he is sleeping soundly now. It may be an hour before the
effects of the drug wear away. During that time you can think of love.
Food will be placed three times a day within the door yonder. You can
readily find it by feeling your way around the wall. Farewell."

When the door closed she started to retreat to her corner, but the chain
instantly drew taut with a rattle. Strangely enough, much of her fear
left her now that she was face to face with the danger; temptation, the
prince had called it. She smiled as she remembered. When the man awoke
and learned their situation, she had no doubt as to how he would act.
She had seen the sign of the beast in the eyes of many men, great and
small; she had seen it and understood. The revolver might save her for a
time, but what if she slept? She knew it would be almost impossible to
remain awake during three days and nights.

The moment her eyes closed the end would come. It seemed better that she
should fire the bullet now.

When he recovered his senses, it would be difficult to shoot effectively
in the dark, for this was not the gloom of night--it was an absolute
void, black, thick, impenetrable. She could not make out her hand at the
slightest distance from her eyes. He might even attack her from behind
and knock the revolver from her hand before she could shoot. Sooner or
later the man must die. Even if she did not kill him it would be
accomplished by the command of the prince at the end of the three days.

Far better that it should be done at once--that he should never awaken
from his sleep. She reached the decision calmly and crept forward to
him. Very lightly she passed her hand over his clothes. She had to move
his arm to uncover t