The Dark Star

She lifted her troubled eyes: "That is what frightens me," she said. "I am afraid you don't know

enough to be afraid."

He laughed.

"But I want you to be afraid. A really brave man knows what fear is. I

want you to know."

"What do you wish me to do, Scheherazade?"

"Keep away from that box."

"I can't do that."

"Yes, you can. You can leave it in charge of the captain of this ship

and let him see that an attempt is made to deliver it to the Princess

Mistchenka."

She was in deadly earnest; he saw that. And, in spite of himself, a

slight thrill that was almost a chill passed over him, checked

instantly by the hot wave of sheer exhilaration at the hint of actual

danger.

"Oho!" he said gaily. "Then you and your friends are not yet finished

with me?"

"Yes, if you will consider your mission accomplished."

"And leave the rest to the captain of the Volhynia?"

"Yes."

"Scheherazade," he said, "did you suppose me to be a coward?"

"No. You have done all that you can. A reserve officer of the British

Navy has the box in his charge. Let him, protected by his Government,

send it toward its destination."

In her even voice the implied menace was the more sinister for her

calmness.

He looked at her, perplexed, and shook his head.

"I ask you," she went on, "to keep out of this affair--to disassociate

yourself from it. I ask it because you have been considerate and

brave, and because I do not wish you harm."

He turned toward her, leaning a little forward on the lounge: "No use," he said, smiling. "I'm in it until it ends----"

"Let it end then!" said a soft, thick voice directly behind him. And

Neeland turned and found the man he had seen on deck standing beside

him. One of his fat white hands held an automatic pistol, covering

him; the other was carefully closing the door which he had noiselessly

opened to admit him.

"Karl!" exclaimed Ilse Dumont.

"It is safaire that you do not stir, either, to interfere," he said,

squinting for a second at her out of his eyes set too near together.

"Karl!" she cried. "I asked him to come in order to persuade him! I

gave him my word of honour!"