throng cynically for a moment Kaid said:
"To-morrow thou goest. A month hence the hakim's knife will find the
thing that eats away my life. It may be they will destroy it and save
me; if not, we shall meet no more."

David looked into his eyes. "Not in a month shall thy work be completed,
Effendina. Thou shalt live. God and thy strong will shall make it so."

A light stole over the superstitious face. "No device or hatred,
or plot, has prevailed against thee," Kaid said eagerly. "Thou hast
defeated all--even when I turned against thee in the black blood of
despair. Thou hast conquered me even as thou didst Harrik."

"Thou dost live," returned David drily. "Thou dost live for Egypt's
sake, even as Harrik died for Egypt's sake, and as others shall die."

"Death hath tracked thee down how often! Yet with a wave of the hand
thou hast blinded him, and his blow falls on the air. Thou art beset by
a thousand dangers, yet thou comest safe through all. Thou art an honest
man. For that I besought thee to stay with me. Never didst thou lie to
me. Good luck hath followed thee. Kismet! Stay with me, and it may be
I shall be safe also. This thought came to me in the night, and in the
morning was my reward, for Lacey effendi came to me and said, even as
I say now, that thou wilt bring me good luck; and even in that hour, by
the mercy of God, a loan much needed was negotiated. Allah be praised!"

A glint of humour shot into David's eyes. Lacey--a loan--he read it
all! Lacey had eased the Prince Pasha's immediate and pressing financial
needs--and, "Allah be praised!" Poor human nature--backsheesh to a
Prince regnant!

"Effendina," he said presently, "thou didst speak of Harrik. One there
was who saved thee then--"

"Zaida!" A change passed over Kaid's face.

"Speak! Thou hast news of her? She is gone?" Briefly David told him how
Zaida was found upon her sister's grave. Kaid's face was turned away as
he listened.

"She spoke no word of me?" Kaid said at last. "To whom should she
speak?" David asked gently. "But the amulet thou gavest her, set with
one red jewel, it was clasped in her hand in death."

Suddenly Kaid's anger blazed. "Now shall Achmet die," he burst out.
"His hands and feet shall be burnt off, and he shall be thrown to the
vultures."

"The Place of the Lepers is sacred even from thee, Effendina," answered
David gravely. "Yet Achmet shall die even as Harrik died. He shall die
for Egypt and for thee, Effendina."