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Gianapolis had the suave speech and smiling manner. He greeted Soames not as one greets a prospective servant, but as one welcomes an esteemed acquaintance. Following a brief chat, he proposed an adjournment to a neighboring saloon bar; and there, over cocktails, he conversed with Mr. Soames as one crook with another.
Once you are acquainted with it, you can take the air every evening at suitable hours, on application to Mr. Ho-Pin." Soames coughed dryly. "Very good," he said in a strained voice; "I am glad of that." "I knew you would be glad, Soames," declared the smiling Gianapolis; "and now, if you will step this way, I will show you the door by which you must come and go."
When they departed, it was Gianapolis, and not Olaf van Noord, who escorted them to the door and downstairs to the street. The red lips of the Eurasian smiled upon her circle of adulators, but her eyes her unfathomable eyes followed every movement of the Greek.
QUICK! Saints! she has killed me!" It was Gianapolis who spoke! Max hurled himself through the doorway indicated, falling up against the matting wall by reason of the impetus of his leap. He turned, leaped on, and one of the panels was slightly ajar; it was a masked door. Within was darkness out of which came the sounds of a great turmoil, as of wild beasts in conflict.
"You will arrange for me to visit the house of Ho-Pin, did you say? immediately?" "To-day, if you wish," said Gianapolis, brightly. "My funds," continued M. Gaston, shrugging his shoulders, "are not limitless at the moment; and until I receive a remittance from Paris"... The brow of Mr. Gianapolis darkened slightly.
If it were possible, she would warn Denise of the change of plan; if it were not, then she must rely upon her friend to see through the ruse which she was about to practise upon the Greek. "Good night, Mr. Gianapolis!" she said abruptly, and held out her hand to the smiling man. His smile faded. "I should love to join you, but really you must know that it's impossible.
Gianapolis rose to his feet, unsteadily, and stretched out his arms in supplication. "Mahara!" he said, "don't treat me like this! dear little Mahara! what have I done to you? Tell me! only tell me!" "Shall I tell it in English?" asked the Eurasian softly. Her eyes now were nearly closed; "or does it worry you that I speak so ugly"... "Mahara!"... "I only say, be so very careful."
"My dear friend!" cried Gianapolis enthusiastically, "no important city has been neglected! A high priest of the cult has arisen, and from a parent lodge in Pekin he has extended his offices to kindred lodges in most of the capitals of Europe and Asia; he has not neglected the Near East, and America owes him a national debt of gratitude." "Ah! the great man!" murmured M. Gaston, with closed eyes.
"Follow me!" he gasped, glancing back at Gianapolis; "Morbleu, make an effort! The keys the keys!" Laying Helen Cumberly upon one of the raised divans, with her head resting upon a silken cushion, Max, teeth tightly clenched and dreadfully conscious that his strength was failing him, waited for Gianapolis.
One lithe step forward the Eurasian sprang, and, at the word, brought down the fan with all her strength across Gianapolis' eyes! He staggered away from her, uttering a hoarse cry and instinctively raising his arms to guard himself from further attack; but the girl stood poised again, her hand upon her hip; and swinging her right toe to and fro.
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