ight that dragged upon her, keeping
her from all that she was fitted for, from all that she desired. But
while she remained with Nigel, her influence must be paramount. For
Isaacson was at his elbow to take advantage of every opening. And she
was sure Isaacson would give her no mercy, if once he got Nigel on his
side.

What was she to do? What was she to do?

Secretly she cursed with her whole heart now the coldly practical,
utterly self-interested side of Baroudi's nature. But she was afraid to
defy it. She remembered his words:

"We have to do what we want in the world without losing anything by it."

And she saw him--how often!--going in at the tent-door through which
streamed light, to join the painted odalisque.

She was reaching the limit of her endurance. She felt that strongly
to-night.

On the day of their return to the villa Hamza had mysteriously left
them, without a word.

Two or three times Nigel had asked for him. She had said at first that
he had gone to see his family. Afterwards she had said that he stayed
away because he was offended at not being allowed any more to wait upon
his master: "Doctor Isaacson's orders, you know!" And Nigel had answered
nothing. Where was Hamza? Mrs. Armine had asked Ibrahim. But Ibrahim,
without a smile, had answered that he knew nothing of Hamza, and in Mrs.
Armine's heart had been growing the hope that Hamza had gone to seek
Baroudi, that perhaps he would presently return with a message from
Baroudi.

And yet could any good, any happiness, ever come to her through the
praying donkey-boy? Always she instinctively connected him with
fatality, with evil followed by sorrow. The look in his eyes when they
were turned upon her seemed like a quiet but steady menace. She had a
secret conviction that he hated her, perhaps because she was what he
would call a Christian. Strange if she were really hated for such a
reason!

Once more she stood still by the edge of the river.

She heard the sailors still singing on the _Loulia_, the faint barking
of dogs, perhaps from the village of Luxor. She looked up at the stars
mechanically, and remembered how Nigel had gazed at them when she had
wanted him to be wholly intent upon her. Then she looked again, for a
long time, at the blue light which shone from the _Loulia_'s mast-head.

Behind her the bushes rustled. She turned sharply round. Ibrahim came
towards her from the tangled darkness.

"What are you doing here?" she asked