“Not the end, dearest one—­if we are always to regret,” he Interposed eagerly.  “But why the end?  You do love me!  I know it!  And I worship you—­oh, you don’t know how I worship you, Genevra!  I—­”

“Hush!  We were fools!  Don’t, please!  I do not love you.  I was carried away by—­Oh, can’t you understand?  Remember what I am!  You knew and yet have degraded me in my own eyes.  Is my own self-respect nothing?  You will laugh and you may boast after I am married to—­”

“Genevra!” he protested as if in great pain.

“Excellency,” came from the lips of Selim, at the lower end of the chamber, breaking in sharply upon their little world.  “There is no time to be lost.”  Time to be lost!  And he had held her in his arms!  Time to be lost!  All the rest of Time was to be lost!  “They may return at any moment.”

Chase pulled himself together.  He looked into her eyes for a moment, finding nothing there but a command to go.  She stood straight and unyielding on the very spot which had seen her trembling with emotion but a moment before.

“Coming, Selim,” he said, and moved away from her side as Neenah came toward them from the opposite wall.  Genevra did not move.  She stood quite still and numb, watching his tall figure crossing the stone floor.  Ah, what a man he was!  The little Persian wife of Selim, after waiting for a full minute, gently touched the arm of the Princess.  Genevra started and looked down into the dark, accusing, smiling eyes.  She flushed deeply and hated herself.

“Shall we go back?” she asked nervously.  “I—­I have seen enough.  Come, Neenah.  Lead me back to—­”

“Most glorious excellency,” said Neenah, shaking her pretty head, “we are to wait here.  The sahib and Selim will join us soon.”

“Where are they going?” demanded the Princess, a feeling of awe coming over her.  “I don’t want to be left here alone.”  Chase and Selim had opened a low, heavy iron door at the lower end and were peering into the darkness beyond.

“Selim will explain.  He has learned much.  It is the secret passage to the coast.  Be not afraid.”

Genevra looked about her for the first time.  They were standing in a long, low room, the walls of which reeked with dampness and gave out a noxious odour.  A single electric light provided a faint, almost unnatural light.  Selim raised a lighted lantern as he led Chase through the squat door.  Behind Genevra were enormous casks, a dozen or more, reaching almost to the ceiling.  A number of boxes stood close by, while on the opposite side of the chamber four small iron chests were to be seen, dragged out from recesses in the distant corner.  It was not unlike the mysterious treasure cave of the pirates that her brother had stealthily read about to her in childhood days.  Observing her look of wonder, Neenah vouchsafed a casual explanation.