Over the Top ! 23
spite of his looks. He’s been everywhere, and done
everything, and every step he treads is smeared with
blood. He’s the most evil and dangerous man in
London. He’s a vampire, he lives on ruined lives.”
I admit I had the heartiest abhorrence for the man.
But this fiercely bitter denunciation of one who was
evidently a close friend of two of the world’s greatest
artists, did not make his case look blacker. I was not
impressed, frankly, with Mrs. Webster as an authority
on other people’s conduct.
“O Thou Dragon-prince of the air, that art
drunk on the blood of the sunsets! I adore Thee,
Evoe! I adore Thee, I A O!”
A wild pang of jealousy stabbed me. It was a livid,
demoniac spasm. For some reason or other I had
connected this verse of Lou’s mysterious chant with
the personality of King Lamus.
Gretel Webster understood. She insinuated another
dose of venom. _
“Oh yes, Mr. Basil King Lamus is quite the ladies’
man. He fascinates them with a thousand different
tricks. Lou is dreadfully in love with him.”
Once again the woman had made a mistake. I
resented her reference to Lou. I don’t remember
what I answered. Part of it was to the effect that Lou
didn’t seem to have been very much injured.
Mrs. Webster smiled her subtlest smile.
“T quite agree,”’ she said silkily, ‘“‘ Lou is the most
beautiful woman in London to-night.”
“Q Thou fragrance of sweet flowers, that art
wafted over blue fields of air! I adore Thee,
Evoe! I adore Thee, I A O!”
The state of the girl was extraordinary. It was as
if she possessed two personalities in their fullest pos-
sibilities—the divine and the human. She was intensely