se which overlooked the garden.
In one of them, in the room which the chauffeur had been observing, the
light still dimly burned, but he saw no shadows. Peering out from the
angle of the alleyway, he thought he had discovered a doorway or court
between the house he was watching and the one below it toward the
Carsija, and in a moment fancied that he could distinguish the sound of
whispering voices, from that direction; but the shadow of a mosque
nearby threw its shadow upon this part of the street, and he could see
nothing clearly. If there were men there, they were keeping in the
shadow of the wall around the turn of the street, beyond the range of
Renwick's vision, but the night breeze which carried the sound of the
whispers also wafted the odor of a native cigarette. The smell of it
made Renwick wish to smoke, for the suspense and inaction were telling
upon him, but he resisted the impulse, sinking lower into the shadow,
and awaiting events.

Minutes passed--hours they seemed to the waiting Renwick--and then came
the deep boom of a bell, which echoing down the silent streets, seemed
just at Renwick's elbow--another--another--until he counted twelve, of
the belfry of the cathedral announcing midnight.

He waited, thinking deeply. The machine which had come a long journey?
The lighted windows which the chauffeur watched? The whisper of voices
from the street below him? There was mystery here. He crouched lower and
watched the dark shadow of the arch below the house.

CHAPTER XVI

THE BEG OF RATAJ

When Marishka reached the top of the stairs, entered the Harim, gazing
terrified into the darkness from which she had emerged, she pushed aside
the Kis-Kelim and listening fearfully for sounds of footsteps below,
then closed the door, turned the key, and put her back against it,
viewing with a new vision the interior which a while ago had seemed so
friendly. Without Yeva who had given its disorder a personality, the
room seemed alien, hostile and madly chaotic. For the first time since
the reassurances of Captain Goritz in the green limousine as to her
safety, she had a definite sense of personal danger. She was not
timorous by nature, and the hope of success in her mission of atonement
had given her the courage for the venture. She realized now that the
will which had kept her buoyant through two arduous days and nights had
suddenly forsaken her and left her supine, without hope or initiative.
The actions of th