in his watchfulness, saw everything. It was evidently the hand
of one of the women who had glided out when his party entered--in all
probability that of the favourite wife.

The young Emir saw it too, for he turned a questioning face to his
father, who bowed his head, and the young man stepped silently across to
the curtain, drew it a little aside, and stood whispering answers to the
eager questions which were asked.

"The women!" thought Frank, who was ready to snatch at any straw. If he
could only speak to Morris he would order that they should stay and keep
watch by the sufferer's side all night, and so baffle any nefarious
attempt that might be made.

Then with a hopeful feeling arising in his breast Frank went slowly on
with his task, which he could have finished at any moment, and waited
for his opportunity, while, as if satisfied with the report, the
inquirer drew back, a weary sigh sounding plainly out of the darkness,
the curtain fell back into its former folds, and the young Emir returned
to his father's side.

By this time the administering of the sedative was ended, the professor
had withdrawn with the bottle and glass, and the Hakim once more took
hold of the sufferer's swarthy wrist, to remain counting the pulsations
for many minutes, before laying the hand gently down and rising to
stand, with folded arms, gazing at the stern, dark, immovable face.

"Waiting. How long will he wait?" thought Frank, and his mental
question was being asked by the three Mullahs who still stood like so
many statues.

Quite a quarter of an hour passed, and then the Hakim slowly turned his
head and looked at the Sheikh, who bent his head to attention, and a
thrill ran through Frank as he heard that all his anxieties were
certainly for the moment at an end, for the doctor said quietly, "Tell
his Highness the Emir that his friend is in too dangerous a state to be
left."

The Sheikh interpreted the words, and received in reply the Emir's words
that the women of his household and the wounded man's own wife would
watch by his side all night.

"That is good, Ibrahim," replied the Hakim, "but their time is not yet.
Tell the Emir that I and my people will keep watch till it is safe to
leave him."

The Emir drew a deep breath indicative of his satisfaction as he heard
the Hakim's words, and then crossing to him he reverently took his hand,
bent over it, and drew back, said a word or two to his son, who went to
the three Mu