which he could not have contrived had been contrived for him
by the suspicions and malice of Marzak. That was the one grain of
consolation in the present peril--to himself who mattered nothing and
to her, who mattered all. Adversity had taught him to prize benefits
however slight and to confront perils however overwhelming. So he hugged
the present slender benefit, and resolutely braced himself to deal
with the situation as he found it, taking the fullest advantage of the
hesitancy which his words had sown in the heart of the Basha. He hugged,
too, the thought that as things had fallen out, from being oppressor and
oppressed, Rosamund and he were become fellows in misfortune, sharing
now a common peril. He found it a sweet thought to dwell on. Therefore
was it that he faintly smiled as he looked into Rosamund's white,
strained face.

That smile evoked from her the question that had been burdening her
mind.

"What now? What now?" she asked huskily, and held out appealing hands to
him.

"Now," said he coolly, "let us be thankful that you are delivered from
quarters destructive both to comfort and to dignity. Let me lead you to
those I had prepared for you, which you would have occupied long since
but for the ill-timed coming of Asad. Come." And he waved an inviting
hand towards the gangway leading to the poop.

She shrank back at that, for there on the poop sat Asad under his awning
with Marzak, Biskaine, and his other officers in attendance.

"Come," he repeated, "there is naught to fear so that you keep a bold
countenance. For the moment it is Sheik Mat--check to the king."

"Naught to fear?" she echoed, staring.

"For the moment, naught," he answered firmly. "Against what the future
may hold, we must determine. Be sure that fear will not assist our
judgment."

She stiffened as if he had charged her unjustly.

"I do not fear," she assured him, and if her face continued white, her
eyes grew steady, her voice was resolute.

"Then come," he repeated, and she obeyed him instantly now as if to
prove the absence of all fear.

Side by side they passed up the gangway and mounted the steps of the
companion to the poop, their approach watched by the group that was in
possession of it with glances at once of astonishment and resentment.

Asad's dark, smouldering eyes were all for the girl. They followed her
every movement as she approached and never for a moment left her to turn
upon her companion.

Outwardly she