-I don't know why."

"Which is probably the reason why he tried to kill me to-night!"

"That's beside the question, Mr. Cavanagh. He will believe you--which
is the important point."

"Very well. I have no idea what you have in mind but I am prepared
to adopt any plan since I have none of my own. What shall I say?"

"Say that we are prepared to return the slipper--on conditions."

"He will probably try to shoot me as I stand at the window."

Dexter shrugged his shoulders.

"Got to risk it," he drawled.

"And what are the conditions?"

"He must come right in here and discuss them! Guarantee him safe
conduct and I don't think he'll hesitate. Anyway, if he does, just
tell him that the slipper will be destroyed immediately!"

Without a word I turned on my heel and ascended the stairs.

I entered my room, crossed to the window, and threw it widely open.
Hovering over the distant hills I could see the ominous thunder
cloud, but the storm seemed to have passed from "Uplands," and only
a distant muttering with the faint dripping of water from the pipes
broke the silence of the night. A great darkness reigned, however,
and I was entirely unable to see if any one was in the orchard.

Like some mueddin of fantastic fable I stood there.

"Hassan!" I cried--"Hassan of Aleppo!"

The name rang out strangely upon the stillness--the name which
for me had a dreadful significance; but the whole episode seemed
unreal, the voice that had cried unlike my voice.

Instantly as any magician summoning an efreet I was answered.

Out from the trees strode a tall figure, a figure I could not
mistake. It was that of Hassan of Aleppo!

"I hear, effendim, and obey," he said. "I am ready. Open the
door!"

"We are prepared to discuss terms. You may come and go
safely"--still my voice sounded unfamiliar in my ears.

"I know, effendim; it is so written. Open the door."

I closed the window and mechanically descended the stairs.

"Mind it isn't a trap!" cried Hilton, who, with the others, had
overheard every word of this strange interview. "They may try to
rush the door directly we open it."

"I'll stand the chest behind it," said Soar; "between the door and
the wall, so that only one can enter at a time."

This was done, and the door opened.

Alone, majestic, entered Hassan of Aleppo.

He was dressed in European clothes but wore the green turban of a
Sherif. With his snowy beard and coal-black eyes he seemed like