Nothing could have come as a greater surprise to Elaine. Even Long Sin had not expected any such speech as this. Elaine, however, was wonder-stricken.
"Do you—do you really mean it?" she asked, scarcely able to believe what her ears heard.
Wu merely nodded, and with a wave of his hand to Long Sin indicated that Elaine was to be released.
Long Sin, the slave, did not stop to question his master, but merely moved over to a closet and took out the hat and wraps which Elaine had worn when she had been kidnapped in the up-town apartment. He handed them over to her and she put them on with trembling hands.
No one stopped her and she nerved herself to take several steps toward the door. She had scarcely crossed half the room.
"Wait!" ordered Wu sharply.
Was he merely torturing her, as a cat might torture a mouse? She stopped obediently, afraid to look at him.
"This will be the vengeance of Wu Fang," he went on impressively. "Slowly, one by one, your friends will weaken and die, then your family, until finally only you are left. Then will come your turn."
He stopped again and raised his long lean forefinger. "Go," he hissed.
"I wish you much joy."
He turned to Long Sin and whispered a word to him. A moment later, Long Sin drew forth a large silken handkerchief and tied it tightly over Elaine's eyes. Then he took her hand and led her out. There was to be no chance by which she could lead a raiding party back to the den in which she had been held.