ollow any lawlessness, I should say they
are too wise to put themselves in the wrong. After all, too, these
people are not doing them any harm by living in their midst."

"You are right, Anstice, and I'm a silly old fool for letting my
imagination run riot in this way." Sir Richard sat upright and gazed out
at the world of sun and sand through which they were passing. "As you
say, they would not dare--and in any case as soon as Bruce can travel we
will bring them back to civilization."

"By the way, how soon can we start?" The bare thought of meeting Iris
sent the blood humming wildly through Anstice's veins; and he awaited
Sir Richard's reply with barely-concealed impatience.

"Well, we shall reach Cairo--if this confounded train doesn't break down
_en route_--about dinner-time. It would be no use attempting to start
to-night--the horses must be ordered for to-morrow morning, as early as
you like. And no doubt you will want to take one or two things with
you."

Anstice nodded.

"Yes--but they won't take long to procure. As for baggage--we travel
light?"

"Yes--just what we can carry. I have plenty of things out there--can
give you all you need," said Sir Richard more briskly. "And if all goes
well we need not anticipate a long stay. Now, how about a cup of tea?
This beastly sand has gone down my throat in bushels."

He called the Soudanese attendant and gave him an order, and over the
indifferent tea and Huntley and Palmer biscuits which were presently
brought to them, he and Anstice discussed Littlefield and other matters
widely removed from the subject of their former conversation.

It was seven o'clock when the train finally ran into the station at
Cairo, humming like a beehive with its crowded native life, and ten
minutes later the two men were driving through the busy streets beneath
the clear green evening sky on the way to the hotel chosen by Sir
Richard.

"The Angleterre--it's quieter than Shepheard's," he said, "and anyhow it
is only for one night. After dinner we'll go and make arrangements for
an early start. That will suit you all right?"

"The earlier the better," returned Anstice promptly, and as their
carriage drew up before the hotel he sprang out with an eagerness which
seemed to betoken a readiness to start forthwith.

By ten o'clock that night all arrangements were made, horses bespoken,
baggage packed, and all necessaries purchased, and shortly afterwards
the two men exchanged cordial