He says he's going straight to bed directly he reaches the hotel.
Charmian would be disappointed. I'll explain to her."

These were Mrs. Shiffney's last words to Susan, as she pulled down her
thick white veil, opened her parasol, and stepped into the landau to
drive up to the hotel. Madame Sennier was already in the carriage, where
the composer lay back opposite to her with closed eyes. Even the
brilliant sunshine, the soft and delicious air, the gay cries and the
movement at the wharf, where many Arabs were unloading bales of goods
from the ships, or were touting for employment as porters and guides,
failed to rouse him.

"I must go to bed!" was his sole remark.

"My cat, you shall have the best bed in Africa and stay there for a
week. Only have courage for another five minutes!" said his wife,
speaking to him with the intonation of a strong-hearted mother
reassuring a little child.

When Susan arrived at Djenan-el-Maqui she found Charmian there alone.
Charmian greeted her eagerly, but looked at her anxiously, almost
suspiciously, after the first kiss.

"Where's Adelaide? On the yacht?"

"She's gone to the Hotel St. George."

"Oh! Close to us! How long is she going to stay? Oh, Susan, why did you
let her come?"

"I couldn't help it. But why need you mind?"

"Adelaide hates me!"

"Oh, no!"

"She does. And you know it."

"I really don't think she has time to hate you, Charmian. And Adelaide
can be very kind."

"Your theosophy prevents you from allowing that there are any faults in
your friends. Yes, Susan, it does."

"Have you read the manuals carefully?"

"Yes, but I can't think of them now. Adelaide's being here will spoil
everything."

"No it won't! She'll only stay a day or two, not that, perhaps."

"But why did she come at all?"

"She didn't tell me. She's coming to see you to-day with Mr. Elliot."

"Max Elliot, too! Of course it is Claude whom Adelaide wants to see. I
quite understand that. But he's not here."

"What has become of him?"

"Susan, you know of course he wished to welcome you. He is devoted to
you. But--well, the truth is"--she slightly lowered her voice, although
there was no one in the room--"he had to go away for the opera. He has
gone to Constantine with Armand Gillier, the author of the libretto, to
study the native music there, and military life, I believe. There is a
big garrison at Constantine, you know. Monsieur Gillier is a most
valuable friend for Claude, and ca