He led her to the big wrought-iron range and opened one of its ovens, revealing the form of an old-fashioned safe.
Taking a huge key from his pocket, he opened the door and drew from it a package of papers.
“I am going to show you, my love, what no woman’s eye ever saw before, the guarded secrets of the Invisible Empire, its signs, passwords, ritual and secret oath. In this act I now imperil no life save my own.”
Stella’s tapering fingers trembled as she turned the pages nervously and read its brief formulas.
“As Chief of the Klan I met here the leaders from each district.”
“Then—you—are—the—Chief?” she slowly asked, bending low to hide her flushed face.
“Yes, I was the only Chief the Empire ever had in the state,” he answered with a ring of boyish pride.
“And you bowed to no law save your own?” she asked in low tones.
“No.”
“And you really did hold high courts of life and death?” she whispered.