cost me a good deal of uneasiness, if that's any consolation to you.
I want to know how you did it?"

"My fame as a wizard would soon evaporate if I revealed my methods," he
answered, still looking steadfastly at me. "However, I will give you
another exhibition of my powers. In fact, another warning. Have you
confidence enough in me to accept it?"

"I'll wait and see what it is first," I replied cautiously, trying to
remove my eyes from his.

"Well, my warning to you is this--you intend to sail in the _Saratoga_
for Australia on Friday next, don't you? Well, then, don't go; as you
love your life, don't go!"

"Good gracious! and why on earth not?" I cried.

He stared fixedly at me for more than half a minute before he answered.
There was no escaping those dreadful eyes, and the regular sweep of
those long white fingers on the cat's black fur seemed to send a cold
shiver right down my spine. Bit by bit I began to feel a curious
sensation of dizziness creeping over me.

"Because you will _not_ go. You cannot go. I forbid you to go."

I roused myself with an effort, and sprang to my feet, crying as I did
so:

"And what right have _you_ to forbid me to do anything? I'll go on
Friday, come what may. And I'd like to see the man who will prevent me."

Though he must have realized that his attempt to hypnotize me (for
attempt it certainly was) had proved a failure, he was not in the least
disconcerted.

"My dear fellow," he murmured gently, knocking off the ash of his
cigarette against the table edge as he did so, "no one is seeking to
prevent you. I gave you, at your own request--you will do me the justice
to admit that--a little piece of advice. If you do not care to follow
it, that is your concern, not mine; but pray do not blame me. Must you
really go now? Then good-night, and good-bye, for I don't suppose I
shall see you this side of the Line again."

I took his proffered hand, and wished him good-night. Having done so, I
left the house, heartily glad to have said good-bye to the only man in
my life whom I have really feared.

When in the train, on my way back to town, I came to review the meeting
in the _Green Sailor_, I found myself face to face with a series of
problems very difficult to work out. How had Nikola first learned my
name? How had he heard of the Wetherells? Was he the mysterious person
his meeting with whom had driven Wetherell out of England? Why had
Baxter telegraphed to him that "the train