As for my sister, she merely turned the ring so that the gem no longer faced the Rhamda; and with the other hand she reached out and grasped Ariadne’s firmly.

Avec sat with his two hands clasping the arms of his chair.  His fingers drummed nervously but lightly on the wood.  And then, suddenly, they stopped their motion.

“Your answer, Fenton,” in his usual gentle voice.  “I can give you no more time,” I did not need to consult Charlotte or Jerome.  I knew what they would have said.

“You are welcome to my answer.  It is—­no!”

As I spoke the last word my gaze was fixed on the Rhamda’s eyes.  He, on the other hand, was looking towards Ariadne.  And at the very instant an expression, as of alarm and sorrow, swept into the man’s face.

My glance jumped to Ariadne.  Her eyes were closed, her face suffused; she seemed to be suffocating.  She gave a queer little sound, half gasp and half cry.

Simultaneously Jerome’s hands shot into the air.  The room shivered with the stunning report of his breast gun.  And every pellet struck the Rhamda and burst.

A look of intense astonishment came into his face.  He gave Jerome a fleeting glance, almost of admiration; then his nostrils contracted with pain as the gas attacked his lungs.

Another second, and each of us were reeling with the fumes.  Jerome started toward the window, to raise it, then sank back into his chair.  And when he turned round—­

He and I and Charlotte saw an extraordinary thing.  Instead of succumbing to the gas, Rhamda Avec somehow recovered himself.  And while the rest of us remained still too numbed to move or speak, he found power to do both.

“I warned you plainly, Fenton,” as though nothing in particular had happened.  “And now see what you have brought upon the poor child!”

I could only roll my head stupidly, to stare at Ariadne’s now senseless form.

“As usual, Fenton, you will blame me for it.  I cannot help that.  But it may still be possible for you to repent of your folly and escape your fate.  You are playing with terrible forces.  If you do repent, just follow these instructions”—­laying a card on the table—­“and I will see what I can do for you.  I wish you all good night.”

And with that, pausing only to make a courtly bow to Charlotte, Rhamda Avec turned and walked deliberately, dignifiedly from the room, while the two men and a woman stared helplessly after him and allowed him to go in peace.

XXIV

THE LIVING DEATH

As soon as the fresh air had revived us somewhat, we first of all examined Ariadne.  She still lay unconscious, very pale, and alarmingly limp.  I picked her up and carried her into the next room, where there was a sofa, while Jerome went for water and Charlotte brought smelling-salts.

Neither of these had any effect.  Ariadne seemed to be scarcely breathing; her heart beat only faintly, and there was no response to such other methods as friction, slapping, or pinching of fingernails.