herwise the Englishman dare
not make promises. He saw too, that it would have been impolitic for
Knight to take Sabine into his confidence. A Frenchman in the secret
would have ruined this _coup d'etat_; and, beginning to respect Stephen
as an enemy, he decided that he was too clever to be in real partnership
with the officer. Ben Halim's growing conviction was that his wife,
Saidee, had told Victoria all she knew and all she suspected, and that
the girl had somehow contrived to smuggle a letter out of the Zaouia to
her English lover.

The distrust and dislike he had long felt for Saidee suddenly burst into
a flame of hatred. He longed to crush under his foot the face he had
once loved, to grind out its beauty with a spurred heel. And he hated
the girl, too, though he could not punish her as he could punish Saidee,
for he must have Maieddine's help presently, and Maieddine would insist
that she should be protected, whatever might happen to others. But he
was beginning to see light ahead, if he might take it for granted that
his secret was suspected by no more than four persons--Saidee,
Victoria, and the two Englishmen who were acting for the girl.

"I see by this letter from my brother-in-law that it is even as thou
sayest; thou and thy friend together have committed the cruel wrong of
which thou boastest," Ben Halim said at last. "A father robbed of his
one son is as a stag pinned to earth with a spear through his heart. He
is in the hands of the hunter, his courage ebbing with his life-blood.
Had this thing been done when thou wert here before, I should have been
powerless to pay the tribute, for the lady over whom thou claimst a
right was not within my gates. Now, I admit, she has come. If she wish
to go with thee, she is free to do so. But I will send with her men of
my own, to travel by her side, and refuse to surrender her until my
child is given into their hands."

"That is easy to arrange," Stephen agreed. "I will telegraph to my
friend, who is by this time--as you can see by your letter--two days'
journey away or more. He will return with your son, and an escort, but
only a certain distance. I will meet him at some place appointed, and we
will hand the boy over to your men."

"It will be better that the exchange should be made here," said the
marabout.

"I can see why it might be so from your point of view, but that view is
not ours. You have too much power here, and frankly, I don't trust you.
You'll adm