Part 22 (1/2)

Once, I remember, a doctor on board shi+p who dabbled in hypnotism told me that I was the most unsyood a an to realize that this woe and luminous, and I was conscious for just an instant of so to subject e scent which recalled that wild hour in Kuprasso's garden-house It passed quickly, and for a second her eyes drooped I seemed to read in them failure, and yet a kind of satisfaction, too, as if they had found more in me than they expected

'What life have you led?' the soft voice was saying

I was able to answer quite naturally, rather to ineer up and down the world'

'You have faced danger ht with ht in battles'

Her bosoh A save me her hand 'The horses are at the door now,' she said, 'and your servant is with theuide you to the city'

She turned away and passed out of the circle of light into the darkness beyond

Peter and I jogged ho at our side We did not speak a word, forlike hounds on the track of the past hours I had seen the mysterious Hilda von Einem, I had spoken to her, I had held her hand She had insulted ry Suddenly the ga becaonists, Stumm and Rasta and the whole Ger only the sli eyes 'Mad and bad,' Blenkiron had called her, 'but principally bad' I did not think they were the proper tered to the narroorld of our co beyond and above it, as a cyclone or an earthquake is outside the decent routine of nature Mad and bad she reat

Before we arrived our guide had plucked ot by heart 'The Master says,' ran the ht'

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

An Embarrassed Toilet

I was soaked to the bone, and while Peter set off to look for dinner I went to ot into pyjamas for so wet ride had stiffened ar suit of primitive blue, which Blenkiron had looted from my London wardrobe As Cornelis Brandt I had sported a flannel nightgown

My bedrooyht at first it was Blenkiron, but the briskness of the tread was unlike histhere, and the visitor, whoever he was, had own Blenkiron had lent ate

My friend Rasta was standing by the table, on which he had laid an envelope He looked round at my entrance and saluted

'I co you your passports for tomorrow You will travel by ' And then his voice tailed away and his black eyes narrowed to slits He had seen so which switched him off the metals

At that moment I saw it too There was a mirror on the wall behind hi ineer on the Danube boat-blue jeans, loden cloak, and all The accursed iven him the clue to an identity which was otherwise buried deep in the Bosporus

I am bound to say for Rasta that he was a man of quick action In a trice he had whipped round to the other side of the table betweenme wickedly

By this time I was at the table and stretched out a hand for the envelope My one hope was nonchalance

'Sit down, sir,' I said, 'and have a drink It's a filthy night to move about in'

'Thank you, no, Herr Brandt,' he said 'You may burn these passports for they will not be used'