“You know how to save yourself,” said Zulima coldly.
“But I cannot comply with his wishes,” answered Stolburst.
“Then you must die.”
The man laughed, but his laugh was hollow and forced.
“Ajeeb seems to forget,” he said, “that he is in a civilized country. Here there are hundreds and hundreds of men to protect me. What is he and that demon Ashah against so many?”
“The priests of Jobu will prevail,” said the girl.
Stolburst trembled. Her words filled him with dread, for they seemed prophetic.
“I go,” added Zulima, “and I never want to see you again.”
She moved majestically from the apartment.
Stolburst thought of leaving the country. He dismissed the idea immediately after it was conceived. No matter where he went, he believed the Abyssinians would discover him. He was too well known a character both in Europe and America to long conceal his movements from being chronicled in the newspapers.