ight jerked her to her feet.

"It is useless to struggle," she cried.

"A woman! Where am I?"

"You are lost."

"But what has happened? In God's name, _madame_, are we chained
together?"

"We are."

"By whose power? By whose right and command?"

"By one against whom we cannot appeal."

"My crime?"

"None."

"For how long--"

"Three days."

He heaved a great sigh of relief.

"It is merely some practical joke, I see. That infernal Franz, I knew he
was meditating mischief! Three days--and then free?"

"Yes, for then you die."

Once more he was silent.

Then: "This is a hideous dream. I will waken from it at once--at once.
My dear lady--"

She heard him advancing.

"Keep the chain taut, sir, I am armed; I will fire at the slightest
provocation."

He stopped and laughed.

"Come, come! This is not so bad. You have been smiling in your sleep at
me. Up with the lights, my dear. If Franz has engaged you for this
business, let me tell you that I'm a far better fellow than he must have
advertised me. But what a devil he is to rig up such an elaborate hoax!
By Jove, this chain--this darkness--it's enough to turn a fellow's hair
white! The black night gets on my nerves. Lights! Lights! I yearn to see
you; I prophesy your beauty by your voice! Still coy? Then we'll try
persuasion!"

His breast struck the muzzle of the revolver.

She said quietly: "If I move my finger a fraction of an inch you die,
sir. And every word I have spoken to you is the truth."

"Well, well! You do this finely. I shall compliment Franz on rehearsing
you so thoroughly. Is this the fair Daphne of whom he told me--"

And his hand touched her shoulder.

"By everything that is sacred, I will fire unless you stand back--back
to the end of the chain."

"Is it possible? The Middle Ages have returned!"

He moved back until the light chain was taut.

"My mind whirls. I try to laugh, but your voice convinces me. _Madame_,
will you explain my situation in words of one syllable?"

"I have explained it already. You are imprisoned in a place from which
you cannot escape. You will be confined here, held to me by this chain,
for three days. At the end of that time you die."

"Will you swear this is the truth?"

"Name any oath and I will repeat it."

"There's no need," he said. "No, it cannot be a jest. Franz would never
risk the use of a drug, wild as he is. Some other power has taken me.
What reason lies behind my arrest?"

"Th