blazing: "Stand back, you impudent scoundrel!" he cried, "Stand away
from my wife! How dare you?"

"Come!" said the Chief. His voice was still sharper. "No nonsense,
Monsieur. The veil must be raised and immediately; you are keeping the
whole train back. What do you suppose I am here for?" There was
menace in his tone as he took a step forward. "Now, Madame, will you
raise it, or shall I?"

Kaya retreated slowly to the farther side of the compartment. "Stop,"
she whispered to Velasco. "Don't get angry; don't do anything, it is
useless. Come back in the shadow."

Then she turned and faced the official defiantly, throwing up the veil.
Her face was very pale, her eyes were blue and dark, like two pools
without a bottom, and her lips pressed together, quivering slightly.
Velasco stared at her for a moment and drew a step nearer, laying his
hand on her shoulder. He was trembling with rage.

"Are you satisfied now, you cur?" he cried, "Look at her then. You
will never see another face as beautiful, not in the whole length and
breadth of your cursed country. Look--while you have the chance! By
heaven, whoever you are, chief of the devil himself, I'll report you
for this--I'll--"

A shrill whistle cut through the torrent of words, and in another
moment the Chief had stepped back, and the under officials came
crowding through the door of the compartment.

"Arrest them both," cried the Chief shortly, "Get them away at once and
don't let them out of your hands. 'Peter and Paul,' quick! The woman
is--" He whispered something hoarsely.

In a second the two were surrounded, their hands were chained; they
were bound like sheep and dragged, first one, then the other, to a
covered sleigh at the rear of the station.

"Put them in--hurry!" cried the Chief, "Gag the fellow; don't let him
speak! Is the woman secure, so she can't scream, or moan? Take them
off!"

The sleigh started, and the two lay side by side on the floor, jostled
by the lurching of the runners, their flesh cut and bruised by the
ropes, their mouths parched and panting behind the gags. They could
not stir, or moan, or make a sign. They were helpless.

When the sleigh stopped in the grim inner court of the fortress, they
were carried out into the darkness, and borne like animals through
long, damp passages, down innumerable steps and dim windings until
finally a door clicked and opened. They were thrust inside, their
bindings were cut, a