The mark . ust stalk away with sullen sourmien? Yea, thou hast trespassed; but now, Ibid thee stay. There, sit thee down, for loveof all the gods. Are there not pillows enough, thatthou must stand glowering there? So; that isbetter. Now it seems that perhaps thou mayestserve me after all, my lord, if thou wilt so conde-scend, though I did not call thee—mark thatwell! Perchance it was thy Soondai, but surelytwas not I. So I may serve the queen, it matters not whocalled. Wilt thou obey me absolutely, and withoutquestion, this night in whatever I command? Loda Bai, I have said it oft; try me once
The mark . ust stalk away with sullen sourmien? Yea, thou hast trespassed; but now, Ibid thee stay. There, sit thee down, for loveof all the gods. Are there not pillows enough, thatthou must stand glowering there? So; that isbetter. Now it seems that perhaps thou mayestserve me after all, my lord, if thou wilt so conde-scend, though I did not call thee—mark thatwell! Perchance it was thy Soondai, but surelytwas not I. So I may serve the queen, it matters not whocalled. Wilt thou obey me absolutely, and withoutquestion, this night in whatever I command? Loda Bai, I have said it oft; try me once. So, then, for the nonce thou art my lord nolonger, but my slave of thy own free will? Even as I ever have been. Suppose I give thee poison, wilt thou drink it?she questioned banteringly. And the Doctor answered Aye. Or scourge thee—wilt thou submit? And again he answered Aye. Digitized by Microsoft® She sat up among her cushions and spoke imperiously. Digitized by Microsoft® Digitized by Microsoft®. Digitized by Microsoft® Digitized by Microsoft® THE MARK 161 She crossed the room swiftly to the cabinet fromwhence she had taken her dream potion for Ben Alifand drew forth another flask, and, filling a tiny-measure, came back to the waiting man andpresented it to him. Drink, slave! He looked up into her eyes as he took the cupand his lips murmured a toast in the barest possi-ble whisper ere he drained the potion. He turnedthe cup down when he had drunk and sat silent andstill, while she stood before him equally motion-less, but with her eyes gazing off beyond him intothe shadows of the room. The silence grew almostoppressive before the girl spoke, and then it seemedby an effort that she did so. Where art thou, slave? There was no answer, though a slow, almost per-ceptible quiver passed over the mans frame. Shespoke again less dreamily and with a ring of imperi-ous command in her tone. Speak! Where artthou? Then the answer came rumblingly and the sittingfigure bowed till
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