“Be seated, I pray you. Captain Hastings,” he said, with a wave of his hand. “You acceded to my request to come immediately, I am glad to see.”

“Who are you?” I asked. “Li Chang Yen?”

“Indeed no, I am but the humblest of the master’s servants. I carry out his behests, that is all⁠—as do other of his servants in other countries⁠—in South America, for instance.”

I advanced a step.

“Where is she? What have you done with her out there?”

“She is in a place of safety⁠—where none will find her. As yet, she is unharmed. You observe that I say⁠— as yet !”

Cold shivers ran down my spine as I confronted this smiling devil.

“What do you want?” I cried. “Money?”