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Left alone at last with Heliobas and Father Paul, I, kneeling at the side ofZara, looked into their faces for comfort, but found none The dry-eyed despair on the countenance of Heliobas pierced , solemn expression of the venerable priest touched me as with icy cold The lovely, ure beforeeffort to control my voice, I called, in a low, clear tone: "Zara! Zara!"
No sign--not the faintest flicker of an eyelash! Only the sound of the falling rain and the o ceased Suddenly a soaze, which first surprised and then horrified er shone! It was like a piece of dull unpolished pebble Grasping at theinstinctive rapidity, I sprang up and caught the arm of Heliobas
"You--you!" I whispered hurriedly "YOU can restore her! Do as you did with Prince Ivan; you can--you one out of it If that means--and I aone out of HER, YOU can bring it back Quick--Quick! You have the power!"
He looked at h that was alroan escaped his lips
"I have NO power," he said "Not over her I told you she was do-- worse than nothing--I am utterly helpless"
I stared at him in a kind of desperate horror
"Do you mean to tell me," I said slowly, "that she is dead--really dead?"
He was about to anshen one of the watching servants announced in a low tone: "Dr Morini"
The new-comer was a wiry, keen-eyed little Italian; his movements were quick, decisive, and all to the point of action The first thing he did was to scatter the little group of servants right and left, and send them about their business The next, to close the doors of the rooht up to Heliobas, and pressing his hand in a friendly manner, said briefly: "How and when did this happen?"
Heliobas told him in as feords as possible Dr Morini then bent over Zara's lifeless forainst her heart and listened Finally, he caught sight of the round, lustreless pebble hanging at her neck suspended by its strings of pearls Very gently he moved this aside; looked, and beckoned us to come and look also Exactly on the spot where the electric stone had rested, a small circular mark, like a black bruise, tainted the fair soft skin--a