ssionate voice, "and they have enjoyed the fleeting
happiness of your favour for--how long? Just as long as you wanted,
Poltavo, and when you have been satisfied and sated yourself with joy,
you have cast them out as they had been nothing to you. I know your
record, my man," he said. "All that I want now is to assure myself that
you are in earnest, because if you are----" He paused.

"If I am----?" sneered Poltavo.

"You will not leave this house alive," said Farrington.

He said it in a matter-of-fact tone, and the full significance of his
speech did not dawn upon the Russian until long after he had said it.

For the space of a second or two his lips were smiling, and then the
smile suddenly froze. His hand went back to his hip pocket and
reappeared, holding a long-barrelled automatic pistol.

"Don't you try any of your tricks on me," he breathed. "I am quite
prepared for all eventualities, Mr. Farrington; you make a mistake to
threaten me."

"Not such a mistake as you have made," smiled Farrington. "You may fire
your pistol to see if it will go off. My own impression is that the
magazine has been removed."

One glance at the weapon was sufficient to demonstrate to the other that
the man had spoken the truth. He went deathly white.

"Look here," he said, genially, "let us make an end to this absurd
breach of friendship. I have come down to see what I can do for you."

"You have come down now to force me to grant your wishes regarding
Doris," said Farrington. "I think the matter had better end." He pressed
the bell, and Fall came in after a few moments' interval.

"Give the Count some refreshment before he goes," he said; "he is going
to London."

The very matter-of-factness of the instructions reassured Count Poltavo,
who for one moment had stood in a panic of fear; there was that in this
big silent house which terrified him. And with the removal of this fear
his insolent assurance returned. He stood in the doorway.

"You have made up your mind about Doris?" he said.

"Absolutely," said Farrington.

"Very good," said Poltavo.

He followed Fall along the corridor, and the doctor opened a small door
and illuminated a tiny lift inside, and Poltavo stepped in. As he did so
the door clicked.

"How do I work this lift?" he asked through the ornamental ironwork of
the doorway.

"I work it from outside," said Dr. Fall, cheerfully, and pressed a
button. The lift sank. It passed one steel door--that was the