“Oh,” said the Persian, between his teeth. “I have never seen this before!⁠ ⁠… Pampin was not mad, after all: he had seen it!⁠ ⁠… What can that flame be? It is not he , but he may have sent it!⁠ ⁠… Take care!⁠ ⁠… Take care!⁠ ⁠… Your hand at the level of your eyes, in Heaven’s name, at the level of your eyes!⁠ ⁠… I know most of his tricks⁠ ⁠… but not this one.⁠ ⁠… Come, let us run⁠ ⁠… it is safer. Hand at the level of your eyes!”

And they fled down the long passage that opened before them.

After a few seconds, that seemed to them like long minutes, they stopped.

“He doesn’t often come this way,” said the Persian. “This side has nothing to do with him. This side does not lead to the lake nor to the house on the lake.⁠ ⁠… But perhaps he knows that we are at his heels⁠ ⁠… although I promised him to leave him alone and never to meddle in his business again!”