“White stranger, thou’rt a fool! What Dolores wills, will surely come to pass. If thy heart fails thee, and thy friends are safe at thy hands, dost think they will have like scruples? Fool again! One of them will kill thee and the other, and that man will gain a peerless mate. And, bend down thy tall head, thou imitation giant — already thy two friends are liberated, each seeking the life of the other, though neither knows of the other’s freedom!”

“What?” stammered Pearse, gripping the girl’s slim shoulder fiercely. “If you lie — ”

“Pshaw! One need not lie to befool thee!” Pascherette retorted scornfully. “Sleep, and if thy throat is not yet slit on thy awakening, make thy decision quickly, and tell it to Dolores.”