From what Curtis had told her she knew it was the last day of stage four, that the trio that evening would be initiated into stage five—­the Stage of Cures, and a mad desire seized her to witness the initiation.  But how would the Unknown manifest itself on this occasion—­and to which of the trio?  She could not keep a close watch on the three of them.  If only she had been friends with Shiel, they might, in some way, have worked it together.  Curtis had carefully avoided her since the supper; but she had seen Kelson, and he had looked at her each time he met her as if he yearned to fall down at her feet and worship her.  Should she attach herself to him for the evening—­and run the risk of another quarrel with Hamar?  She dearly loved risks and dangers—­and the danger she would encounter in defying Hamar appealed to her sporting nature.  It was easy to secure Kelson—­one glance from her eyes—­and he would have followed her to Timbuctoo.

“Charing Cross—­under clock—­after show to-night,” she whispered as she flew hurriedly past him.  “I want to speak to you.”

Now it so happened that Hamar had given Kelson orders to return to his rooms, directly the performance was over, and to remain in them till morning, in case he was wanted in connection with the initiation.  But he might have spared himself the trouble.  It was Lilian, and Lilian only, that Kelson now thought of—­it was Lilian, and Lilian only, that he would obey.  The idea of meeting her—­of having her all to himself—­of being able to do her a service—­filled him with such uncontrollable delight, that he hardly knew how to comport himself so as not to arouse Hamar’s suspicions.  Directly the performance was over he sneaked out of the Hall, and pretending not to hear Hamar, who called after him, he jumped into a taxi, and was whirled away to the trysting-place.  Lilian Rosenberg, who arrived a moment later, was dressed in a new costume, and Kelson thought her looking smarter and daintier than ever.

“You shall kiss me at once,” she said, “if you promise me one thing.”

“And what is that?” he asked, looking hungrily at her lips.

“I want you to let me see the Unknown when it comes to you to-night,” she said.

“Good God!  What do you know about the Unknown!” he exclaimed, his jaws falling, and a look of terror creeping into his eyes.

“A great deal,” she laughed, “so much that I want to learn more”—­and of what she knew she told him, just as much as she had told Hamar.  “And now,” she said, “I repeat my promise—­you shall have a kiss—­think of that—­if only you will hide me somewhere so that I can see the Unknown or its emissary.”

“I would do anything for a kiss,” Kelson said, “but I fear it is impossible to fulfil the condition, because I haven’t the remotest idea where or when the Unknown will appear.  Besides, it is just as likely to go to Hamar or Curtis as to come to me; and up to the present I haven’t felt the remotest suggestion of its favouring me.  Is this the only condition I can fulfil, so that you will let me kiss you?”