A weight seemed lifted from his
shoulders, and he went, almost with alacrity, towards the boat.

"After all, you are much my senior," he said, as they were getting in,
"besides being an intimate friend of the patient. I don't think it would
seem unnatural to any one."

"The most natural thing in the world!" said Isaacson, calmly. "Yes,
Hassan, you can come with us. Come in the other boat. I may want you to
do something for me later on."

The two doctors did not talk much as they were rowed towards the
_Loulia_. Both were preoccupied. As they drew near to her, however,
Doctor Hartley began to fidget. His bodily restlessness betrayed his
mental uneasiness.

"I do hope she'll be reasonable," he said at length.

"I think she will."

"What makes you?"

"She's a decidedly clever woman."

"Clever--oh, yes, she is. She was very well known, wasn't she, once--in
a certain way?"

"As a beauty--yes."

Isaacson's tone of voice was scarcely encouraging, and the other
relapsed into silence and continued to fidget. But when they were close
to the _Loulia_, almost under the blue light that shone at her
mast-head, he said, in a low and secretive voice:

"I think you had better take the lead, as you are my senior. It will
appear more natural."

"Very well. But I don't want to seem to--"

"No, no! Don't mind about me! I shall perfectly understand. I have
chosen to call you in. That shows I am not satisfied with the way the
case is going."

The felucca touched the side of the _Loulia_. Ibrahim appeared. He
smiled when he saw them, smiled still more when he perceived beyond them
the second boat with Hassan. Isaacson stepped on board first. Hartley
followed him without much alacrity.

"I want to see Mrs. Armine," Isaacson said to Ibrahim. Ibrahim went
towards the steps.

"Do you happen to know what that Arabic writing means?" Isaacson asked
of Hartley, as they were about to pass under the motto of the _Loulia_.

"That--yes; I asked. It's from the Koran."

"Yes?"

"It means--the fate of every man have we bound about his neck."

"Ah! Rather fatalistic! Does it appeal to you?"

"I don't know. I haven't thought about it. I wonder how she'll receive
us!"

"It will be all right," Isaacson said with cheerful confidence.

But he was wondering too.

The first saloon was empty. Ibrahim left them in it, and went through
the doorway beyond to the after part of the vessel. Isaacson sat down on
the divan, but Hartley move