"I do not threaten," I said in open defiance, "I shall act."
"And so shall I," he said with an evil grin upon his bony face
as he blotted what he had written and took it up, adding: "In the
darkness and silence of your living tomb, you can tell whatever
strange stories you like concerning me. They are used to idiots
where you are going," he added grimly.
"Oh! And where am I going?"
"Back to Kanaja. This order consigns you to confinement there as
a dangerous political conspirator, as one who has threatened me—it
consigns you to the cells below the lake—for life!"
I laughed aloud, and my hand sought my wallet wherein was that
all-powerful document—the order of the Emperor which gave me, as an
imperial guest, immunity from arrest. I would produce it as my
trump-card.
Next second
