treated me--"

"Don't, Truxton," she pleaded, suddenly serious. She sent a swift glance
toward the balconies. "You must not come here. I saw--well, you know. I
was so ashamed. I was so sorry."

He still held her hands. His heart was throbbing furiously.

"Yes, they ordered me to move on, as if I were a common loafer," he
said, with a soft chuckle. "I'm used to it, however. They ran me out of
Meshed for taking snapshots; they banished me from Damascus, and they
all but kicked me out of Jerusalem--I won't say why. But where have you
kept yourself? Why have you avoided me? After getting the Prince to
parade me in front of your windows, too. It's dirt mean, Loraine."

"I have been ill, Truxton--truly, I have," she said quickly, uneasily.

"See here, what's wrong? You are in trouble. I can tell by your manner.
Tell me--trust me."

"I am worried so dreadfully about John," she faltered.

"That isn't all," he declared. "There's something else. What promise did
you make to Vos Engo last Saturday after--well, if you choose to recall
it--after I brought you back to him--what did you promise him?"

"Don't be cruel, Truxton," she pleaded. "I cannot forget all you have
done for me."

"You told Vos Engo to ride back and pick me up," he persisted. "He told
me in so many words. Now, I want a plain answer, Loraine. Did you
promise to reward him if he--well, if he saved me from the mob?"

She was breathlessly silent for a moment. "No," she said, in a low
voice.

"What was it, then? I must know, Loraine." He was bending over her,
imperiously.

"I am very--oh, so very unhappy, Truxton," she murmured. He was on the
point of clasping her in his arms and kissing her. But he thought better
of it.

"I came near spoiling everything just now," he whispered hoarsely.

"What?"

"I almost kissed you, Loraine,--I swear it was hard to keep from it.
That would have spoiled everything."

"Yes, it would," she agreed quickly.

"I'm not going to kiss you until you have told me you love Vos Engo."

"I--I don't understand," she cried, drawing back and looking up into his
face with bewildered eyes.

"Because then I'll be sure that you love me."

"Be sensible, Truxton."

"I'll know that you promised to love him if he'd save me. It's as clear
as day to me. You _did_ tell him you'd marry him if he got me to a place
of safety."

"No. I _refused_ to marry him if he did not save you. Oh, Truxton, I am
so miserable. What is to become of a