Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/253

 He led her behind the towering columns, and, at the rear of the ruins of the heavy brick walls, entered the basement by a stairway half covered with fallen débris.

The floors of the first story which had been constructed of iron and cement foundations had remained unbroken. The basement, once entered below the ruins, was in a state of perfect preservation.

They entered the immense kitchen whose walls had once echoed with the voices of swarms of indolent well-fed slaves.

Stella looked about her in amazement, asking with a slight tremor in her voice:

"Why have you brought me here?"

"To place my life in your hands, joyously, without a single reservation," he said with deep earnestness. "You are in the council chamber of the Invisible Empire. Here its High Court of Life and Death was held."

Stella's breath quickened and she glanced at John with furtive eyes.

"I should have told you frankly at first. You had the right to know before you gave your life into my keeping."

He led her to the big wrought-iron range and opened one of its ovens, revealing the form of an old-fashioned safe.