And I prophesied,
Mr. Jerome, that their refusal to accept my advice would be
followed by events that would justify me.
"They refused, as you know; and I am here tonight to make a final
plea, so that they may escape the consequences of their
wilfulness."
"You're a crook! And the more I see of you, Avec, the more easily
I can understand why they turned you down!"
"So you too, are prejudiced against me. I cannot understand this.
My motives are quite above question, I assure you."
"Really!" I observed sarcastically. I stole a glance at Ariadne;
her eyes were still riveted, in a rapt yet half-fearful
abstraction, upon the face of the Rhamda. It was time I took her
attention away.
I called her name. She did not move her head, or reply. I said it
louder: "Ariadne!"
"What is it, Hobart?"--very softly.
"Ariadne, this gentleman possesses a great deal of knowledge of
the locality from which you came. We are interested in him,
because we feel sure that, if he chose to, he could tell us
something about our friends who--about Harry Wendel." Why not lay
the cards plainly on the table? The Rhamda must be aware of it
all, anyhow. "And as this man has said, he has tried to prevent us
from solving the mystery. It occurs to me, Ariadne, that you might
recognise this man. But apparently--"
She shook her head just perceptibly. I proceeded:
"He is pleased to call his warning a prophecy; but we feel that a
threat is a threat.
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