know that. I'll tell him when we're a little farther into the
desert.

What a bungle those boatmen are making of the steamer-ropes! They'll
have that four-inch hawser chafed through in a minute. I told you
so--there she goes! White foam on green water, and the steamer slewing
round. How good that looks! I'll sketch it. No, I can't. I'm afflicted
with ophthalmia. That was one of the ten plagues of Egypt, and it
extends up the Nile in the shape of cataract. Ha! that's a joke, Torp.
Laugh, you graven image, and stand clear of the hawser.... It'll knock
you into the water and make your dress all dirty, Maisie dear.'

'Oh!' said Torpenhow. 'This happened before. That night on the river.'

'She'll be sure to say it's my fault if you get muddy, and you're quite
near enough to the breakwater. Maisie, that's not fair. Ah! I knew you'd
miss.

Low and to the left, dear. But you've no conviction. Don't be angry,
darling. I'd cut my hand off if it would give you anything more than
obstinacy. My right hand, if it would serve.'

'Now we mustn't listen. Here's an island shouting across seas of
misunderstanding with a vengeance. But it's shouting truth, I fancy,'
said Torpenhow.

The babble continued. It all bore upon Maisie. Sometimes Dick lectured
at length on his craft, then he cursed himself for his folly in being
enslaved. He pleaded to Maisie for a kiss--only one kiss--before she
went away, and called to her to come back from Vitry-sur-Marne, if she
would; but through all his ravings he bade heaven and earth witness that
the queen could do no wrong.

Torpenhow listened attentively, and learned every detail of Dick's life
that had been hidden from him. For three days Dick raved through the
past, and then a natural sleep. 'What a strain he has been running
under, poor chap!' said Torpenhow. 'Dick, of all men, handing himself
over like a dog! And I was lecturing him on arrogance! I ought to have
known that it was no use to judge a man. But I did it. What a demon that
girl must be! Dick's given her his life,--confound him!--and she's given
him one kiss apparently.'

'Torp,' said Dick, from the bed, 'go out for a walk. You've been here
too long. I'll get up. Hi! This is annoying. I can't dress myself. Oh,
it's too absurd!'

Torpenhow helped him into his clothes and led him to the big chair
in the studio. He sat quietly waiting under strained nerves for
the darkness to lift. It did not lift that day, nor the next. Dick
adven