them, a process which seemed to cause general alarm, bearing, as it
did, a strong resemblance to the smelling-out of savage witch-doctors.

Indeed, they all began to talk of this or that at hazard, but she was
not to be put off by such interruptions. Having investigated Godfrey
till he felt cold down the back, Madame turned her searchlight eyes
upon Miss Ogilvy, who shrank beneath them. Then of a sudden she
exclaimed with a kind of convulsive shudder:

"The Power possesses and guides me. It tells me that /you/ will be the
first, Sister Helen. I see you among the immortal Lilies with the Wine
of Life flowing through your veins."

On receipt of this information the Wine of Life seemed to cease to
flow in poor Miss Ogilvy's face. At any rate, she went deadly pale and
rested her hand upon Godfrey's shoulder as if she were about to faint.
Recovering a little, she murmured to herself:

"I thought it! Well, what does it matter though the gulf is great and
terrible?"

Then with an effort she rose and suggested that they should return to
the drawing-room.

They did so, and were served with Turkish coffee and cigarettes, which
Madame Riennes smoked one after the other very rapidly. Presently Miss
Ogilvy rang the bell, and when the butler appeared to remove the cups,
whispered something in French, at which he bowed and departed.

Godfrey thought he heard him lock the door behind him, but was not sure.