go and see thy friend. Be wise. Sit here until the house
is a little quiet--I must attend to my guests--and afterwards go to bed.
Thou shalt go, in truth, thou shalt go.'

'To-morrow?'

'As soon as may be.' She was talking as though he were a child.

He sat at the table listening to the voices in the harbour and the
streets, and wondering how soon the end would come, till Madame Binat
carried him off to bed and ordered him to sleep. The house shouted and
sang and danced and revelled, Madame Binat moving through it with
one eye on the liquor payments and the girls and the other on Dick's
interests. To this latter end she smiled upon scowling and furtive
Turkish officers of fellaheen regiments, and more than kind to camel
agents of no nationality whatever.

In the early morning, being then appropriately dressed in a flaming
red silk ball-dress, with a front of tarnished gold embroidery and a
necklace of plate-glass diamonds, she made chocolate and carried it in
to Dick.

'It is only I, and I am of discreet age, eh? Drink and eat the roll too.
Thus in France mothers bring their sons, when those behave wisely, the
morning chocolate.' She sat down on the side of the bed whispering:--'It
is all arranged. Thou wilt go by the lighthouse boat. That is a bribe
of ten pounds English. The captain is never paid by the Government. The
boat comes to Suakin in four days. There will go with thee George, a
Greek muleteer. Another bribe of ten pounds. I will pay; they must not
know of thy money. George will go with thee as far as he goes with his
mules. Then he comes back to me, for his well-beloved is here, and if
I do not receive a telegram from Suakin saying that thou art well, the
girl answers for George.'

'Thank you.' He reached out sleepily for the cup. 'You are much too
kind, Madame.'

'If there were anything that I might do I would say, stay here and be
wise; but I do not think that would be best for thee.' She looked at her
liquor-stained dress with a sad smile. 'Nay, thou shalt go, in truth,
thou shalt go. It is best so. My boy, it is best so.'

She stooped and kissed Dick between the eyes. 'That is for
good-morning,' she said, going away. 'When thou art dressed we will
speak to George and make everything ready. But first we must open the
little trunk. Give me the keys.'

'The amount of kissing lately has been simply scandalous. I shall expect
Torp to kiss me next. He is more likely to swear at me for getting in
his