dropped wrist, the cruel emaciation, the tremulous
hands, the pathetic eyes that seemed crying for help--what did they
indicate? And there were other symptoms, even stronger, in Nigel that
already had almost assailed the doctor, as if clamouring for his notice
and striving to tell a story.

"But why are you here, in Egypt?" asked Nigel. "You didn't come out
because--?"

"No, no," said Isaacson.

"But then"--a smile that was rather like tears came into the sick man's
face--"but then perhaps you came to--to see our happiness! You remember
my letter, Ruby?"

"Yes," she said.

His hand still lay on hers.

"Well, since then it's been a bad time for me. But that happiness has
never failed me--never."

"And it never shall," she said.

As she spoke she looked up again at Isaacson, and he read a cool menace
in her eyes. Those eyes repeated what her voice had told him on the
other side of that door. They said: "My enemy can never find a friend in
my husband." But now that Isaacson saw these two people together, he
realized the truth of their relations as words could never have made him
realize them.

There was a little silence, broken only by the tiny whisper of the
faskeeyeh. Then Mrs. Armine said gently:

"Now, Nigel, you've had your surprise, and you ought to sleep. Doctor
Isaacson's coming back to-morrow to have a consultation with Doctor
Hartley at four o'clock."

She spoke as if the whole matter were already arranged.

"Sleep! You know I can't sleep. I never can sleep now."

"Is the insomnia very bad?" asked Isaacson, quietly.

"I never can sleep scarcely. The nights are so awful."

"Yes, Nigel, dearest. But to-night I think you will sleep."

"Why to-night?"

"Because of this happy surprise I arranged for you. But I shall be sorry
I arranged it if you get excited. Do you know how late it is? It is past
eleven. You must let Doctor Isaacson go to the felucca. Our bargain was
that to-night he should not attempt to hear all about you or enter into
the case. It would not be fair to Doctor Hartley."

"Damn Doctor Hartley!" murmured the sick man, almost peevishly.

"I know. But we must behave nicely to him. Be good now, and go to bed. I
have told Doctor Isaacson a lot, and I know you'll sleep now you can
feel he's near you."

"I don't want anything more to do with Hartley. He knows nothing. I
won't have him to-morrow."

He spoke crossly.

"Nigel!"

She put her hand upon his.

"Forgive me, dearest!