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is quite illegal。'
〃'It is somewhat of a liberty； no doubt；' said he；
'but we'll make it up to you。 I must warn you；
however； Mr。 Melas； that if at any time to…night you
attempt to raise an alarm or do anything which is
against my interests； you will find it a very serious
thing。 I beg you to remember that no one knows where
you are； and that； whether you are in this carriage or
in my house； you are equally in my power。'
〃His words were quiet； but he had a rasping way of
saying them which was very menacing。 I sat in silence
wondering what on earth could be his reason for
kidnapping me in this extraordinary fashion。 Whatever
it might be； it was perfectly clear that there was no
possible use in my resisting； and that I could only
wait to see what might befall。
〃For nearly two hours we drove without my having the
least clue as to where we were going。 Sometimes the
rattle of the stones told of a paved causeway； and at
others our smooth； silent course suggested asphalt；
but； save by this variation in sound； there was
nothing at all which could in the remotest way help me
to form a guess as to where we were。 The paper over
each window was impenetrable to light； and a blue
curtain was drawn across the glass work in front。 It
was a quarter…past seven when we left Pall Mall； and
my watch showed me that it was ten minutes to nine
when we at last came to a standstill。 My companion
let down the window； and I caught a glimpse of a low；
arched doorway with a lamp burning above it。 As I was
hurried from the carriage it swung open； and I found
myself inside the house； with a vague impression of a
lawn and trees on each side of me as I entered。
Whether these were private grounds ；however； or
bona…fide country was more than I could possibly
venture to say。
〃There was a colored gas…lamp inside which was turned
so low that I could see little save that the hall was
of some size and hung with pictures。 In the dim light
I could make out that the person who had opened the
door was a small； mean…looking； middle…aged man with
rounded shoulders。 As he turned towards us the glint
of the light showed me that he was wearing glasses。
〃'Is this Mr。 Melas； Harold？' said he。
〃'Yes。'
〃'Well done； well done！ No ill…will； Mr。 Melas； I
hope； but we could not get on without you。 If you
deal fair with us you'll not regret it； but if you try
any tricks； God help you！' He spoke in a nervous；
jerky fashion； and with little giggling laughs in
between； but somehow he impressed me with fear more
than the other。
〃'What do you want with me？' I asked。
〃'Only to ask a few questions of a Greek gentleman who
is visiting us； and to let us have the answers。 But
say no more than you are told to say； or' here came
the nervous giggle again'you had better never have
been born。'
〃As he spoke he opened a door and showed the way into
a room which appeared to be very richly furnished； but
again the only light was afforded by a single lamp
half…turned down。 The chamber was certainly large；
and the way in which my feet sank into the carpet as I
stepped across it told me of its richness。 I caught
glimpses of velvet chairs； a high white marble
mantel…piece； and what seemed to be a suit of Japanese
armor at one side of it。 There was a chair just under
the lamp； and the elderly man motioned that I should
sit in it。 The younger had left us； but he suddenly
returned through another door； leading with him a
gentleman clad in some sort of loose dressing…gown who
moved slowly towards us。 As he came into the circle
of dim light which enables me to see him more clearly
I was thrilled with horror at his appearance。 He was
deadly pale and terribly emaciated； with the
protruding； brilliant eyes of a man whose spirit was
greater than his strength。 But what shocked me more
than any signs of physical weakness was that his face
was grotesquely criss…crossed with sticking…plaster；
and that one large pad of it was fastened over his
mouth。
〃'Have you the slate； Harold？' cried the older man； as
this strange being fell rather than sat down into a
chair。 'Are his hands loose？ Now； then； give him the
pencil。 You are to ask the questions； Mr。 Melas； and
he will write the answers。 Ask him first of all
whether he is prepared to sign the papers？'
〃The man's eyes flashed fire。
〃'Never！' he wrote in Greek upon the slate。
〃'On no condition？' I asked； at the bidding of our
tyrant。
〃'Only if I see her married in my presence by a Greek
priest whom I know。'
〃The man giggled in his venomous way。
〃'You know what awaits you； then？'
〃'I care nothing for myself。'
〃These are samples of the questions and answers which
made up our strange half…spoken； half…written
conversation。 Again and again I had to ask him
whether he would give in and sign the documents。
Again and again I had the same indignant reply。 But
soon a happy thought came to me。 I took to adding on
little sentences of my own to each question； innocent
ones at first； to test whether either of our
companions knew anything of the matter； and then； as I
found that they showed no signs I played a more
dangerous game。 Our conversation ran something like
this：
〃'You can do no good by this obstinacy。 Who are you？'
〃'I care not。 I am a stranger in London。'
〃'Your fate will be upon your own head。 How long have
you been here？'
〃'Let it be so。 Three weeks。'
〃'The property can never be yours。 What ails you？'
〃'It shall not go to villains。 They are starving me。'
〃'You shall go free if you sign。 What house is this？'
〃'I will never sign。 I do not know。'
〃'You are not doing her any service。 What is your
name？'
〃'Let me hear her say so。 Kratides。'
〃'You shall see her if you sign。 Where are you from？'
〃'Then I shall never see her。 Athens。'
〃Another five minutes； Mr。 Holmes； and I should have
wormed out the whole story under their very noses。 My
very next question might have cleared the matter up；
but at that instant the door opened and a woman
stepped into the room。 I could not see her clearly
enough to know more than that she was tall and
graceful； with black hair； and clad in some sort of
loose white gown。
〃'Harold；' said she； speaking English with a broken
accent。 'I could not stay away longer。 It is so
lonely up there with onlyOh； my God； it is Paul！'
〃These last words were in Greek； and at the same
instant the man with a convulsive effort tore the
plaster from his lips； and screaming out 'Sophy！
Sophy！' rushed into the woman's arms。 Their embrace
was but for an instant； however； for the younger man
seized the woman and pushed her out of the room； while
the elder easily overpowered his emaciated victim； and
dragged him away through the other door。 For a moment
I was left alone in the room