moment I will return." He took up his hat.

There was a sudden flash of Nahoum's eyes, as though he saw an outcome
of the intention which pleased him, but Hylda, saw the flash, and her
senses were at once alarmed.

"There is no need to accompany me," she said. "My cousin waits for me."

David opened the door leading into the court-yard. It was dark, save for
the light of a brazier of coals. A short distance away, near the outer
gate, glowed a star of red light, and the fragrance of a strong cigar
came over.

"Say, looking for me?" said a voice, and a figure moved towards David.
"Yours to command, pasha, yours to command." Lacey from Chicago held out
his hand.

"Thee is welcome, friend," said David.

"She's ready, I suppose. Wonderful person, that. Stands on her own feet
every time. She don't seem as though she came of the same stock as me,
does she?"

"I will bring her if thee will wait, friend."

"I'm waiting." Lacey drew back to the gateway again and leaned against
the wall, his cigar blazing in the dusk.

A moment later David appeared in the garden again, with the slim,
graceful figure of the girl who stood "upon her own feet." David drew
her aside for a moment. "Thee is going at once to England?" he asked.

"To-morrow to Alexandria. There is a steamer next day for Marseilles. In
a fortnight more I shall be in England."

"Thee must forget Egypt," he said. "Remembrance is not a thing of the
will," she answered.

"It is thy duty to forget. Thee is young, and it is spring with thee.
Spring should be in thy heart. Thee has seen a shadow; but let it not
fright thee."

"My only fear is that I may forget," she answered.

"Yet thee will forget."

With a motion towards Lacey he moved to the gate. Suddenly she turned
to him and touched his arm. "You will be a great man herein Egypt," she
said. "You will have enemies without number. The worst of your enemies
always will be your guest to-night."

He did not, for a moment, understand. "Nahoum?" he asked. "I take his
place. It would not be strange; but I will win him to me."

"You will never win him," she answered. "Oh, trust my instinct in this!
Watch him. Beware of him." David smiled slightly. "I shall have need to
beware of many. I am sure thee does well to caution me. Farewell," he
added.

"If it should be that I can ever help you--" she said, and paused.

"Thee has helped me," he replied. "The world is a desert. Caravans from
all quarters of the sun m