the night as well as for the day, even
though your eyes, which are as the turquoise set in a crown of glory,
may not pierce the darkness, being unaccustomed to the violent
contrasts and colourings of the East."

Then fell a silence.

And then the perfume of the night, and the scent of the sand and the
spirit of the dead women who had lived and loved even in that temple
chamber, assailed the nostrils of the girl, entering in unto her and
causing a wave of longing and unutterable love to rise and flood her
whole being, so that she smiled sweetly to herself and held out her
arms, and trembled not at the thought of the moment awaiting her.

"Hahmed! Hahmed!" she called softly from love, and hearing no sound
called again and yet more softly. "Come to me, Hahmed! come to
me--because--I love you!"

And her master held her in one arm whilst he gently removed the veil
from before her face, which she turned and laid against his heart as he
poured forth his soul in an ecstasy of love.

"Behold!" he cried, as he removed the outer cloak from about her.
"Behold is my beloved like unto a citadel which has fallen before my
might, and the gates thereof are unbarred before the conqueror!

"Behold," and Jill's head veil fell to her feet, "is the citadel fair
to look upon, from the glistening of the golden cupolas to the feet
awash in the River of Love.

"Surrounded by the ivory wall of innocence is she, and unto her lord is
the glory of measuring the circumference thereof.

"Even as a flowering tree is she, and beneath my hands shall the bloom
of love turn even unto the passion flower.

"Like unto a Court of Love is my heart's delight, and many are the
chambers therein, in which in the heat of the day and the coolness of
the night I shall find repose.

"Her fingers are as the lattice before the windows of her joy, through
which she shall peep; looking for the coming of her lord; her lashes
are the silken curtains which she will draw before the twin pools of
love which are her eyes; her body is as a column of alabaster in the
shadow of which I shall find my delight!

"Yea! the citadel has fallen, and the walls about it are riven at my
approach. Allah! Allah! Allah!"

And the shadows crept gently about them as once more the silence fell,
and gathered again into the corners as Jill sighed softly.

"Tremble not, my beloved! for behold I love thee! Gentle is love to
such as thee, and soft is the sand of Egypt which shall