"I understand you--or, rather, I don't--but it doesn't matter."

He went on smoking in silence, occasionally taking a mouthful of the
neat liquor. "Who is Surtur?" he demanded abruptly.

"We others are gropers and bunglers, but he is a master."

Maskull digested this. "I fancy you are right, for though I know
nothing about him his mere name has an exciting effect on me.... Are
you personally acquainted with him?"

"I must be... I forget..." replied Nightspore in a choking voice.

Maskull looked up, surprised, but could make nothing out in the
blackness of the room.

"Do you know so many extraordinary men that you can forget some of
them? ... Perhaps you can tell me this... will we meet him, where
we are going?"

"You will meet death, Maskull.... Ask me no more questions--I can't
answer them."

"Then let us go on waiting for Krag," said Maskull coldly.

Ten minutes later the front door slammed, and a light, quick footstep
was heard running up the stairs. Maskull got up, with a beating
heart.