et work to which
the marabout had vowed himself and all that was his, the young man's
threat sounded like a hint so terrible in its meaning that Ben Halim's
heart turned suddenly to water. He saw himself exposed, defeated, hand
and foot in the enemy's power. How this Roumi had wormed out the hidden
truth he could not conceive; but he realized on the instant that the
situation was desperate, and his brain seemed to him to become a
delicate and intricate piece of mechanism, moving with oiled wheels. All
the genius of a great soldier and a great diplomat were needed at one
and the same time, and if he could not call such inspiration to his aid
he was lost. He had been tempted for one volcanic second to stab Stephen
with the dagger which he always carried under his burnous and
embroidered vest, but a lightning-flash of reason bade him hold his
hand. There were other ways--there must be other ways. Fortunately
Maieddine had not been told of the Roumi's presence in the Zaouia, and
need not learn anything concerning him or his proposals until the time
came when a friend could be of use and not a hindrance. Even in this
moment, when he saw before his eyes a fiery picture of ruin, Ben Halim
realized that Maieddine's passion for Victoria Ray might be utilized by
and by, for the second time.

Not once did the dark eyes falter or turn from the enemy's, and Stephen
could not help admiring the Arab's splendid self-control. It was
impossible to feel contempt for Ben Halim, even for Ben Halim trapped.
Stephen had talked with an air of cool indifference, his hands in his
pockets, but in one pocket was a revolver, and he kept his fingers on it
as the marabout stood facing him silently after the ultimatum.

"I have listened to the end," the Arab said at last, "because I wished
to hear what strange folly thou hadst got in thy brain. But now, when
thou hast finished apparently, I cannot make head or tail of thy
accusations. Of a man named Cassim ben Halim I may have heard, but he is
dead. Thou canst hardly believe in truth that he and I are one; but even
if thou dost believe it, I care little, for if thou wert unwise enough
to go with such a story to my masters and friends the French, they
could bring a hundred proofs that thy tale was false, and they would
laugh thee to scorn. I have no fear of anything thou canst do against
me; but if it is true that thou and thy friend have stolen my son,
rather than harm should come to him who is my al