But it may still be possible for you to repent of your folly and
escape your fate. You are playing with terrible forces. If you do
repent, just follow these instructions"--laying a card on the
table--"and I will see what I can do for you. I wish you all good
night."
And with that, pausing only to make a courtly bow to Charlotte,
Rhamda Avec turned and walked deliberately, dignifiedly from the
room, while the two men and a woman stared helplessly after him
and allowed him to go in peace.
XXIV
THE LIVING DEATH
As soon as the fresh air had revived us somewhat, we first of all
examined Ariadne. She still lay unconscious, very pale, and
alarmingly limp. I picked her up and carried her into the next
room, where there was a sofa, while Jerome went for water and
Charlotte brought smelling-salts.
Neither of these had any effect. Ariadne seemed to be scarcely
breathing; her heart beat only faintly, and there was no response
to such other methods as friction, slapping, or pinching of
fingernails.
"We had better call a doctor," decided Charlotte promptly, and
went to the phone.
I picked up the card which the Rhamda had left. It contained
simply his name, together with one other word--the name of a
morning newspaper. Evidently he meant for us to insert an
advertisement as soon as we were ready to capitulate.
"Not yet!" the three of us decided, after talking it over.
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