ake proper precaution against any impious attempt to do
so.

Rosamund sank down upon the divan, and sat there with bowed head, her
hands folded in her lap. Sakr-el-Bahr stood by in silence for a long
moment contemplating her.

"Eat," he bade her at last. "You will need strength and courage, and
neither is possible to a fasting body."

She shook her head. Despite her long fast, food was repellent. Anxiety
was thrusting her heart up into her throat to choke her.

"I cannot eat," she answered him. "To what end? Strength and courage
cannot avail me now."

"Never believe that," he said. "I have undertaken to deliver you alive
from the perils into which I have brought you, and I shall keep my
word."

So resolute was his tone that she looked up at him, and found his
bearing equally resolute and confident.

"Surely," she cried, "all chance of escape is lost to me."

"Never count it lost whilst I am living," he replied. She considered him
a moment, and there was the faintest smile on her lips.

"Do you think that you will live long now?" she asked him.

"Just as long as God pleases," he replied quite coolly. "What is written
is written. So that I live long enough to deliver you, then... why,
then, faith I shall have lived long enough."

Her head sank. She clasped and unclasped the hands in her lap. She
shivered slightly.

"I think we are both doomed," she said in a dull voice. "For if you die,
I have your dagger still, remember. I shall not survive you."

He took a sudden step forward, his eyes gleaming, a faint flush glowing
through the tan of his cheeks. Then he checked. Fool! How could he so
have misread her meaning even for a moment? Were not its exact limits
abundantly plain, even without the words which she added a moment later?

"God will forgive me if I am driven to it--if I choose the easier way of
honour; for honour, sir," she added, clearly for his benefit, "is ever
the easier way, believe me."

"I know," he replied contritely. "I would to God I had followed it."

He paused there, as if hoping that his expression of penitence might
evoke some answer from her, might spur her to vouchsafe him some word
of forgiveness. Seeing that she continued, mute and absorbed, he sighed
heavily, and turned to other matters.

"Here you will find all that you can require," he said. "Should you lack
aught you have but to beat your hands together, one or the other of
my slaves will come to you. If you address them in