ust soon go to bed. Now that Doctor
Isaacson has gone, I must play the sick nurse again, or you will be ill,
and then I know he'll blame me."

"How do you know that?"

The sound of his voice startled her. She was just by the drawing-room
door. She stood still and looked round.

"How?" she said. "Why, because Doctor Isaacson doesn't believe in me in
any capacity."

"But I do."

Again she noticed the amazing expressiveness of his face.

"Yes," she said, "I know. You are different."

She opened the door and passed into the room. Directly she was in it she
heard the Nubian sailors on the _Loulia_ beginning their serenade. (She
chose to call it that to herself to-night.) Their music tore at her
heart, at her whole nature. She wanted to rush to it, now, at once,
without one moment of waiting. Hardly could she force her body to move
quietly across the room to the terrace. Nigel came up and stood close to
her.

"Oh, I must have a wrap," she said.

"I'll fetch it."

"No, no! You mustn't go upstairs. You'll tire yourself."

"Not to-night," he said.

And he turned away. Directly the door shut behind him Mrs. Armine darted
into the garden.

"Ibrahim! Ibrahim! Are you there?"

"Yes, my lady."

He came up from the water's edge and stood beside her.

"I can't come yet, but I'll be as quick as I can."

"Yes."

He looked at her. Then he said:

"I dunno what Mahmoud Baroudi say to us. He got one girl on the board."

"On the board!"

"On the board of the _Loulia_."

"Ruby! Ruby! where are you?"

"Go back! Wait for me--wait!"

"Ruby!"

"I'm here! I'm coming, Nigel!"

XLIV

She met him in the garden, a little beyond the terrace. He had on an
overcoat and a soft hat, and was carrying a cloak for her.

"You shouldn't walk out in the night air with bare arms and shoulders,"
he said, holding the cloak so that she could easily put it on.

She turned her back on him, put up her hands and so took it.

"It's very warm to-night."

"Still, it's imprudent."

"You playing sick nurse!"

But all the gaiety had gone out of her voice, all the liveliness had
vanished from her manner.

"Shall we walk a little?" he said. "Shall we go to the bank of the
river?"

"No, no. You mustn't tire yourself. Let us sit down, and very soon I
shall send you to bed."

"Not just yet."

"I'm--"

"It isn't that I want you to play. Besides, that noise over there would
disturb us. No, but I want to talk to you. I mu