"Do you--do you really mean it?" she asked, scarcely able to
believe what her ears heard.

Wu merely nodded, and with a wave of his hand to Long Sin
indicated that Elaine was to be released.

Long Sin, the slave, did not stop to question his master, but
merely moved over to a closet and took out the hat and wraps which
Elaine had worn when she had been kidnapped in the up-town
apartment. He handed them over to her and she put them on with
trembling hands.

No one stopped her and she nerved herself to take several steps
toward the door. She had scarcely crossed half the room.

"Wait!" ordered Wu sharply.

Was he merely torturing her, as a cat might torture a mouse? She
stopped obediently, afraid to look at him.

"This will be the vengeance of Wu Fang," he went on impressively.
"Slowly, one by one, your friends will weaken and die, then your
family, until finally only you are left. Then will come your
turn."

He stopped again and raised his long lean forefinger. "Go," he
hissed. "I wish you much joy."

He turned to Long Sin and whispered a word to him. A moment later,
Long Sin drew forth a large silken handkerchief and tied it