the unknown gods (or more truly, the unknown goddesses
of the Cairene demi-monde!) had assisted to save her.

There was a furtive excitement about him that fanned the
supposition.

Then, quite suddenly, the illuminating lightning cut the clouds.

"My dear child, I have news, really important news for you. If I
have not been discussing your future," said Tewfick Pasha, staring
with stern nonchalance ahead and determinedly unaware of her instant
stiffening of attention, "I have by no means been neglectful of
it.... To-day--indeed to-night--there has been a consummation of my
plans.... It is not to every daughter that a father may hurry with
such an announcement."

Her first feeling was a merciful relief. He knew nothing then of the
ball! She could breathe again.... It was her marriage that had
brought him.

No new danger, that, but the eternal menace that she had always to
dread.... But how many times had he promised that she should have no
unknown husband, imposed by tradition! How many times had she
indulged dreams of Europe, of bright, free romance!

And now he was off on some tangent from which it would need all her
coaxing wit to divert him. With wide eyes painfully intent, her
little, jeweled fingers very still in their locked grip in her lap,
the color draining from her cheeks, she sat waiting for the
revelation.

What was it all? Had he really decided upon something? Upon some
one?

Tewfick Pasha appeared in no hurry to inform her. He wandered
rather confusedly into a rambling speech about her age and her
position and the responsibilities of life and his inabilities to
prevent their reaching her, and about his very tender affection for
her and his understanding of all those girlish reticences and
reluctances which made innocent youth so exquisite, while silently
his daughter hung her head and wondered what he would be saying if
he knew that she had broken every canon of seclusion and convention,
had talked and danced with a man....

His astonishment would be so horrific that she flinched even from
the thought.

And if he knew, moreover, that this man had caught her and kissed
her--!

She told herself that she was disgraced for life. She had a dreamy
desire to close her eyes and lean back and dream on about that
disgrace....

But she must listen to her father. He was talking now about the
powers of wealth, not merely the nominal riches of his somewhat
precarious political affiliations, but solid,