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wild convolutions of her garments and the mad gyrations of her figure； her
face was upturned with the seraphic intensity of a devotee； and her lips
parted as with the impassioned appeal for 〃Light！ more light！〃 And the
appeal was answered。 A flood of blue； crimson； yellow； and green
radiance was alternately poured upon her from the black box of a
mysterious Nubian slave in the gallery。 The effect was marvelous； at one
moment she appeared as a martyr in a sheet of flame； at another as an
angel wrapped in white and muffled purity； and again as a nymph of the
cerulean sea； and then suddenly a cloud of darkness seemed to descend
upon her； through which for an instant her figure； as immaculate and
perfect as a marble statue； showed distinctlythen the light went out and
she vanished！
The whole assembly burst into a rapturous cry。 Even the common
Arab attendants who were peeping in at the doors raised their melodious
native cry； 〃Alloe； Fullah！ Aloe； Fullah！〃 again and again。
A shocked silence followed。 Then the voice of Sir Midas Pyle was
heard addressing Dr。 Haustus Pilgrim：
〃May we not presume； sir； that what we have just seen is not unlike
that remarkable exhibition when I was pained to meet you one evening at
the Alhambra？〃
The doctor coughed slightly。 〃The Alhambraah； yes！youer
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refer； I presume； to Granada and the Land of the Moor； where we last met。
The music and dance are both distinctly Moorishwhich； after all； is akin
to the Egyptian。 I am gratified indeed that your memory should be so
retentive and your archaeological comparison so accurate。 But see！ the
ladies are retiring。 Let us follow。〃
IV
The intoxication produced by the performance of the Princess
naturally had its reaction。 The British moral soul； startled out of its
hypocrisy the night before； demanded the bitter beer of self…consciousness
and remorse the next morning。 The ladies were now openly shocked at
what they had secretly envied。 Lady Pyle was； however； propitiated by
the doctor's assurance that the Princess was a friend of Lady Fitz…Fulke；
who had promised to lend her youthful age and aristocratic prestige to the
return ball which the Princess had determined to give at her own home。
〃Still； I think the Princess open to criticism；〃 said Sir Midas oracularly。
〃Damn all criticism and critics！〃 burst out McFeckless； with the noble
frankness of a passionate and yet unfettered soul。 Sir Midas； who
employed critics in his business； as he did other base and ignoble slaves；
drew up himself and his paunch and walked away。
The Chevalier cast a superb look at McFeckless。 〃Voila！ Regard
me well！ I shall seek out this Princess when she is with herself！ Alone；
comprenez？ I shall seek her at her hotel in the Egyptian Hall！ Ha！ ha！
I shall seek Zut…Ski！ Zut！〃 And he made that rapid yet graceful motion
of his palm against his thigh known only to the true Parisian。
〃It's a rum hole where she lives； and nobody gets a sight of her；〃 said
Flossy。 〃It's like a beastly family vault； don't you know； outside； and
there's a kind of nigger doorkeeper that vises you and chucks you out if
you haven't the straight tip。 I'll show you the way； if you like。〃
〃Allons； en avant！〃 said the Chevalier gayly。 〃I precipitate myself
there on the instant。〃
〃Remember！〃 hissed McFeckless； grasping his arm； 〃you shall account
to me！〃
〃Bien！〃 said the Chevalier； shaking him off lightly。 〃All a…r…r… right。〃
Then； in that incomparable baritone； which had so often enthralled
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thousands； he moved away； trolling the first verse of the Princess's own
faint； sweet； sad song of the 〃Lotus Lily；〃 that thrilled McFeckless even
through the Chevalier's marked French accent：
〃Oh； a hard zing to get is ze Lotus Lillee！ She lif in ze
swampin ze watair chillee； She make your foot wetand you
look so sillee； But you buy her for sixpence in Piccadillee！〃
In half an hour the two men reached the remote suburb where the
Princess lived； a gloomy； windowless building。 Pausing under a low
archway over which in Egyptian characters appeared the faded legend；
〃Sta Ged Oor；〃 they found a Nubian slave blocking the dim entrance。
〃I leave you here；〃 said Flossy hurriedly； 〃as even I left once before
only then I was lightly assisted by his sandaled foot；〃 he added； rubbing
himself thoughtfully。 〃But better luck to you。〃
As his companion retreated swiftly； the Chevalier turned to the slave
and would have passed in； but the man stopped him。 〃Got a pass； boss？〃
〃No；〃 said the Chevalier。
The man looked at him keenly。 〃Oh； I see！ one of de profesh。〃
The Chevalier nodded haughtily。 The man preceded him by devious；
narrow ways and dark staircases； coming abruptly upon a small apartment
where the Princess sat on a low divan。 A single lamp inclosed in an
ominous wire cage flared above her。 Strange things lay about the floor
and shelves； and from another door he could see hideous masks； frightful
heads； and disproportionate faces。 He shuddered slightly； but recovered
himself and fell on his knees before her。 〃I lofe you；〃 he said madly。 〃I
have always lofed you！〃
〃For how long？〃 she asked； with a strange smile。
He covertly consulted his shirt cuff。 〃For tree tousand fife hundred
and sixty…two years；〃 he said rapidly。
She looked at him disdainfully。 〃The doctor has been putting you up
to that！ It won't wash！ I don't refer to your shirt cuff；〃 she added with
deep satire。
〃Adorable one！〃 he broke out passionately； attempting to embrace her；
〃I have come to take you。〃 Without moving； she touched a knob in the
wall。 A trap…door beyond him sank； and out of the bowels of the earth
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