at nothing will induce me to
have anything more to do with it."

She laughed softly and asked why not.

"Because I find life so full of perplexities and memories that I have
no wish to make acquaintance with any more, such as I am sure lie hid by
the thousand in that box."

"If so, don't you think that they might clear up some of those which
surround you to-day?"

"No, for in such things there is no finality, since whatever one saw
would also require explanation."

"Don't let us argue," she replied. "It is tiring and I daresay we shall
need all our strength to-night."

I looked at her speechless. Why could she not take No for an answer? As
usual she read my thought and replied to it.

"Why did not Adam refuse the apple that Eve offered him?" she inquired
musingly. "Or rather why did he eat it after many refusals and learn
the secret of good and evil, to the great gain of the world which
thenceforward became acquainted with the dignity of labour?"

"Because the woman tempted him," I snapped.

"Quite so. It has always been her business in life and always will be.
Well, I am tempting you now, and not in vain."

"Do you remember who was tempting the woman?"

"Certainly. Also that he was a good school-master since he caused the
thirst for knowledge to overcome fear and thus laid the foundation-stone
of all human progress. That allegory may be read two ways, as one of a
rise from ignorance instead of a fall from innocence."

"You are too clever for me with your perverted notions. Also, you said
we were not to argue. I have therefore only to repeat that I will not
eat your apple, or rather, breathe your _Taduki_."

"Adam over again," she replied, shaking her head. "The same old
beginning and the same old end, because you see at last you will do
exactly what Adam did."

Here she rose and standing over me, looked me straight in the eyes with
the curious result that all my will power seemed to evaporate. Then she
sat down again, laughing softly, and remarked as though to herself,

"Who would have thought that Allan Quatermain was a moral coward!"

"Coward," I repeated. "Coward!"

"Yes, that's the right word. At least you were a minute ago. Now courage
has come back to you. Why, it's almost time to dress for dinner, but
before you go, listen. I have some power over you, my friend, as you
have some power over me, for I tell you frankly if you wished me very
much to do anything, I should have to do it; and the s