No allusion to Saidee would be
made in words. The "ultimatum" would concern Victoria only, as the elder
sister was wife to the marabout, and no outsider could assume to have
jurisdiction over her. But as it was certain that Victoria would not
stir without Saidee, a demand for one was equivalent to a demand for the
other.

This part of the plan was to be subject to modification, in case Stephen
saw Victoria, and she proposed any course of action concerning her
sister. As for Sabine, having helped to make the plot he was to hold
himself ready at Oued Tolga, the city, for Stephen's return from the
Zaouia. And the rest was on the knees of the gods.

XLVII

For the second time Stephen entered by the great gates of the Zaouia.
The lounging Negro, who had let him in before, stared at the grey mehari
with the red-curtained bassour, whose imposing height dwarfed the
Roumi's horse. No doubt the man wondered why it was there, since only
women or invalids travelled in a bassour;--and his eyes dwelt with
interest on the two Arabs from the town of Oued Tolga. Perhaps he
thought that they would satisfy his curiosity, when the visitor had gone
inside. But Stephen thought differently. The Arabs would tell nothing,
because they knew nothing which could explain the mystery.

The Negro had no French, and either did not understand or pretended not
to understand the Roumi's request to see the marabout. This looked
ominous, because Stephen had been let in without difficulty the first
time; and the Negro seemed intelligent enough to be stupid in accordance
with instructions. Great insistance, however, and the production of
documents (ordinary letters, but effective to impress the uneducated
intelligence) persuaded the big gate-keeper to send for an interpreter.

Stephen waited with outward patience, though a loud voice seemed crying
in his ears, "What will happen next? What will the end be--success, or a
sudden fluke that will mean failure?" He barred his mind against
misgivings, but he had hoped for some sign of life when he rode in sight
of the white roofs; and there had been no sign.

For many minutes he waited; and then came an old man who had showed him
to the marabout's reception room on his first visit. Stephen was glad
to see this person, because he could speak a little French, and because
he had a mild air, as if he might easily be browbeaten.

"I must see Sidi Mohammed on important business," Stephen said.

The old