He looked at her for a moment, then shrugged and turned to Marishka.
"I would suggest, Countess Strahni, that you go with this girl at once into the selamlik. I have no idea of what has happened, but it must be something quite disagreeable—an intruder within the Harim—the penalty is severe——"
Marishka was leaning against the rail of the stairway near the suit of armor, and Goritz watched her curiously.
"I—shall not go," she stammered faintly, wondering at the growing mystery.
He shrugged. "As you please," he muttered, "but I warn you that the situation may be—unpleasant——"
"I shall remain—" she said again.
There were sounds of heavy footsteps, and the door of the dutap swung open, revealing the Beg of Rataj, torn and dishevelled, his face distorted with passion. He paused in the doorway, and looked from Goritz to Marishka, breathing rapidly.
"Ah, Excellency," he gasped. "I call you all to witness. A man has entered the Harim—a Christian. Yeva, I knew, was not there, but I saw him and followed from the street with my friends—my son, my brother-in-law, my cousins. He is here. We have killed him."
Goritz glanced at Marishka, but she stared past the dreadful apparition into the corridor, behind him, incapable of speech or thought.
"A Christian!" said Goritz. "Incredible!"