"'Those who have successfully passed the ordeal of fire,' she
said, 'are put under a vow of silence for one month, and from
moon to moon must speak to no living creature. Therefore, once
you bear the mark of the Fiery Tongue, you may safely pass the
gate, except that there are certain signs which it is necessary
you should know. Afterward, if you should ever be in danger of
discovery anywhere in the East, you will remember the passwords,
which I shall teach you.'
"So I was branded with the mark of Fire-Tongue, and I spent my
last night with Naida learning from her lips the words by which
members of this order were enabled to recognize one another. In
vain I entreated Naida to accompany me. She would allow herself
to love and be loved; but the vows of this singular priesthood
were to her inviolable.
"She exacted an oath from me that I would never divulge anything
which I had seen or heard in the City of Fire. She urged that I
must leave India as quickly as possible. I had already learned
that this remote society was closely in touch with the affairs of
the outside world. And, because I knew I was leaving my heart
behind there in the Indian hills, I recognized that this dreadful
parting must be final.
"Therefore I scarcely heeded her when she assured me that, should
I ever be in danger because of what had happened, a message in
the Times of India would reach her. I never intended to insert
such a message, gentlemen.
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