Like a speechless fool I stood and she glanced quickly down the hallway and then stepped inside and closed the door.
"Gordon!" she whispered in a thrilling undertone. "Your friend! The Scorpion has him!"
Hansen had awakened and now sat gaping stupidly at the strange scene which met his eyes.
Zuleika did not heed him.
"And oh, Steephen!" she cried, and tears shone in her eyes, "I have tried so hard to secure some more elixir but I could not."
"Never mind that," I finally found my speech. "Tell me about Gordon."
"He went back to Kamonos' alone, and Hassim and Ganra Singh took him captive and brought him to the Master's house. Tonight assemble a great host of the people of the Scorpion for the sacrifice."
"Sacrifice!" A grisly thrill of horror coursed down my spine. Was there no limit to the ghastliness of this business?
"Quick, Zuleika, where is this house of the Master's?"
"Soho, 48. You must summon the police and send many men to surround it, but you must not go yourself——"