at he was in Cairo he did not
attempt to communicate with the _Loulia_. He would go up the Nile. He
would find the marvellous boat. And one day he would stand upon a brown
bank above her, he would see his friend on the deck, would hail him,
would cross the gangway and walk on board. Nigel would be amazed.

And Mrs. Armine?

Many times on shipboard Isaacson had wondered what look he would
surprise in the eyes of Bella Donna when he held out his hand to her.
Those eyes had already defied him. They had laughed at him ironically.
Once they had almost seemed to menace him. What greeting would they give
him in Egypt?

That the death of Lord Harwich would recall Nigel to England he scarcely
supposed. The death had been sudden. It would be impossible for Nigel to
arrive for the funeral. And Isaacson knew what had been the Harwich view
of the connection with Mrs. Chepstow, what Lady Harwich had thought and
said of it. Zoe Harwich was very outspoken. It was improbable that
Nigel's trip on the Nile would be brought to an end by his brother's
death. Still, it was not impossible. Isaacson realized that, and on the
following day, meeting a London acquaintance in the hotel, a man who
knew everything about everybody, he spoke of the death casually, and
wondered whether Armine would be leaving the Nile for England.

"Not he! Too seedy!" was the reply.

Isaacson remembered the letter he had had in London from his patient at
Luxor.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"Sunstroke, they say. He went out at midday without a hat--just the sort
of thing Armine would do--went out diggin' for antiquities, and got a
touch of the sun. I don't think it's serious. But there's no doubt he's
damned seedy."

"D'you know where the boat is--the _Loulia_?"

"Somewhere between Luxor and Assouan, I believe. Armine and his wife are
perfect turtle-doves, you know, always keep to themselves and get right
away from the crowd. One never sees 'em, except by chance. She's playin'
the model wife. Wonder how long it'll last!"

In his laugh there was a sound of cynical incredulity. When he had
strolled away, Isaacson went round to Cook's office, and took a sleeping
compartment in the express train that started for Luxor that evening. He
would see the further wonders of Cairo, the Pyramids, the Sphinx,
Sakkara--later, when he came down the Nile, if he had time; if not, he
would not see them at all. He had not travelled from England to see
sights. That was the