thou wilt not fail," the marabout answered. "And neither will
I fail thee."

XL

On the night of the Governor's ball, it was four weeks to the day since
Stephen Knight and Nevill Caird had inquired for Victoria Ray at the
Hotel de la Kasbah, and found her gone.

For rather more than a fortnight, they had searched for her quietly
without applying to the police; but when at the end of that time, no
letter had come, or news of any kind, the police were called into
consultation. Several supposed clues had been followed, and had led to
nothing; but Nevill persuaded Stephen to hope something from the ball.
If any caids of the south knew that Roumis had a secret reason for
questioning them, they would pretend to know nothing, or give misleading
answers; but if they were drawn on to describe their own part of the
country, and the facilities for travelling through it, news of those who
had lately passed that way might be inadvertently given.

Stephen was no longer in doubt about his feelings for Victoria. He knew
that he had loved her ever since the day when she came to Nevill's
house, and they talked together in the lily garden. He knew that the one
thing worth living for was to find her; but he expected no happiness
from seeing her again, rather the contrary. Margot would soon be coming
back to England from Canada, and he planned to meet her, and keep all
his promises. Only, he must be sure first that Victoria Ray was safe. He
had made up his mind by this time that, if necessary, Margot would have
to wait for him. He would not leave Algeria until Victoria had been
found. It did not matter whether this decision were right or wrong, he
would stick to it. Then, he would atone by doing as well as he could by
Margot. She should have no cause of complaint against him in the future,
so far as his love for Victoria was concerned; but he did not mean to
try and kill it. Love for such a girl was too sacred to kill, even
though it meant unhappiness for him. Stephen meant to guard it always in
his heart, like a lamp to light him over the dark places; and there
would be many dark places he knew in a life lived with Margot.

Through many anxious days he looked forward to the Governor's ball,
pinning his faith to Nevill's predictions; but when the moment came, his
excitement fell like the wind at sunset. It did not seem possible that,
after weeks of suspense, he should have news now, or ever. He went with
Nevill to the summer pa