ush with the wall. Even Anthony
looked at the black door and the brass hasp with his gray eyes round in
wonder and interest.

After disposing of the four silken parcels, Romola addressed them in a
mysterious voice: "Those packages contain gems; diamonds, rubies,
pearls from the Punjab, from Bengali, from Burma."

"Can we see them?" pleaded Helen in rapt tones.

"Aw, please!" inserted Peggy in an angelic whisper.

Romola raised both of her hands as if in horror. "They would tempt
even a saint," she muttered.

"Be careful," warned Peter, laying his lips to Peggy's pink ear, "the
princess has a terrible temper. She has been known to strangle a man
for less than that!"

"I don't believe it!" retorted Peggy. "I think the princess is just
too sweet for anything."

Romola gave Peter a look of indolent inquiry. She arose abruptly.

"You must have some of my spiced wine. It is really delicious.
_P'eng-yu_ Moore, we won't bother the servants; won't you help me?"

Peggy folded her hands demurely in her lap. "I hope it isn't
intoxicating," she murmured.

Romola had moved graciously across the room, where in a bronze
jardiniere protruded the dusty, slender necks of tall bottles. She
knelt before this. "Nearer," she whispered, as he followed suit.
"Peter, tell me----"

"Yes, Romola?"

"What does this little girl mean to you?"

Peggy's clear voice sounded: "Peter, my throat is dusty!"

"In a minute, Peggy," he called back. Lowering his voice again: "She's
merely a child. But why----"

"Peter, I've gone to more trouble to-night than you realize,
perhaps----"

"What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to stop making love to that innocent child."

The innocent child's sweet voice was clamoring again. "Peter, the
Sahara Desert is a flowing river compared with my throat!"

"All right, Peggy; in a minute."

"You said once that you--loved me."

"I still stand by my guns. But I don't love any one now. You're a
temptress, Romola. Why, you are a princess! I never saw you more
beautiful than to-night!"

"Peter, can't you realize what a dreary life I've led since that night
you ran away from me in Hong Kong? Won't you--for me--because I want
it--because I want _you_--reconsider, won't you stop, and think,
and----"

"We're getting back to forbidden grounds, Romola."

"Oh, God! I know, I know! But what is there left in my life? Why,
what is there left in yours? Perhaps you are the best operator