nswered.

Half-way up the stairs to the roof, she looked round. "Aren't you
coming?" she asked.

He shook his head, and pointed to the raft in front of the barge. She
quickly descended.

"Forgive me," he said, "my gesture was not a summons. The raft is for
men."

"What do you want to do on it?"

"To wait there till the races are over."

"But--what do you mean? Aren't you coming up on to the roof at all?
Yesterday--"

"Oh, I see," said the Duke, unable to repress a smile. "But to-day I am
not dressed for a flying-leap."

Zuleika put a finger to her lips. "Don't talk so loud. Those women up
there will hear you. No one must ever know I knew what was going to
happen. What evidence should I have that I tried to prevent it? Only my
own unsupported word--and the world is always against a woman. So do be
careful. I've thought it all out. The whole thing must be SPRUNG on me.
Don't look so horribly cynical... What was I saying? Oh yes; well, it
doesn't really matter. I had it fixed in my mind that you--but no, of
course, in that mantle you couldn't. But why not come up on the roof
with me meanwhile, and then afterwards make some excuse and--" The rest
of her whisper was lost in another growl of thunder.

"I would rather make my excuses forthwith," said the Duke. "And, as the
races must be almost due now, I advise you to go straight up and secure
a place against the railing."

"It will look very odd, my going all alone into a crowd of people whom I
don't know. I'm an unmarried girl. I do think you might--"

"Good-bye," said the Duke.

Again Zuleika raised a warning finger.

"Good-bye, John," she whispered. "See, I am still wearing your studs.
Good-bye. Don't forget to call my name in a loud voice. You promised."

"Yes."

"And," she added, after a pause, "remember this. I have loved but twice
in my life; and none but you have I loved. This, too: if you hadn't
forced me to kill my love, I would have died with you. And you know it
is true."

"Yes." It was true enough.

Courteously he watched her up the stairs.

As she reached the roof, she cried down to him from the throng, "Then
you will wait down there to take me home afterwards?"

He bowed silently.

The raft was even more crowded than yesterday, but way was made for him
by Judasians past and present. He took his place in the centre of the
front row.

At his feet flowed the fateful river. From the various barges the last
punt-loads had been ferried a