ns in that moment.

Dolores glided out from the heavy hangings behind her chair of state,
and stood, a vision of majestic loveliness, on the dais. Clad in her
short tunic, her hair bound to her brow by the gold circlet that Milo
had made, she had calculated effects with the art of a Circe. Her
rounded arms and bare shoulders, faultless throat and swelling bosom,
radiant enough in their own fair perfection, she had embellished with
such jewels as subtly served to accentuate even that perfection. Upon
one polished forearm a bracelet was pressed, a gaud formed from one
immense emerald cut in a fashion that forced one to doubt the existence
of such a cutter in mortal form. About her neck a rope of exquisitely
matched black pearls supported a single uncut emerald which might have
been born in the same matrix with that on her arm. Her red leather
sandals were fastened, and her ankles crisscrossed, with such bands of
glittering fire as a goddess might have stolen from the belt of Orion.

These things were revealed gradually by cunningly manipulated light
effects until Dolores blazed out entire before her stupefied guests.
They, seeking for relief from the spell, sought in her face some answer
to the riddle; but her expression was that of a being apart:
tantalizingly, inscrutably indifferent to their presence. Then Milo
advanced, prostrated himself before her, and reported his errand done.
"Rise, Milo, and I thank thee," she said, and her soft, yet vibrant,
voice sent a thrill through her waiting guests. Dolores waved a hand
toward the door. "Send Sancho in to me at once, Milo, and do ye watch
for the return of my wolves."

The giant went out; yet the calm face of Dolores gave no relief to the
three yachtsmen; uneasiness began to sit heavily upon them, and it was
not lessened by the entry of Sancho, for such an awful impersonation of
evil in one man they had never seen before.

"Sancho," Dolores commanded him, "it is my will that the vessel now
entering my haven be cared for as mine. See to it!"

"The lads are hungry, lady; it is long since they tasted such--" Sancho
snarled his protest with wickedly curling lips that revealed ragged
yellow fangs. Dolores stared him down with blazing eyes, held his gaze
for a breath and uttered: "Go! See to it! Thy life is the bond!" and
Sancho slunk out like a whipped cur.

There was an uncanny hint of dynamic force in the girl's swift
assumption of authority, and Tomlin found his throat