Indeed, he was totally at a loss to comprehend anything of
the situation. It baffled him. His master actually seemed pleased and
highly amused at the cowardly conduct of his mistress!

"When did the _Sitt_ leave the camp, Abdul?"

"At about two o'clock this morning, Effendi. She has taken everything
with her," he threw up his hands. "Her medicines, her delicate food,
everything we need for the saint."

"Curse her!" Michael said. "What a dirty trick!"

"The _Sitt_ was very much afraid, Effendi."

"Well, perhaps that was quite natural, Abdul. But to take everything
away! What shall we do without her tins of milk, her medicine-chest?"

"_Insha Allah_, we will save the 'favoured of God,' Effendi. There in
the Bedouin camp they will give us milk--they have goats."

"How is he this morning?"

"The Answerer of Prayer has heard the cry of His children. He has
again bestowed upon us His everlasting mercy, His compassion is
infinite."

"The saint is better?"

"The malady is running its course. _Insha Allah_, it will do so
without any complications. The pox now appears on his back and body.
The condition of the saint's general health is not such as to cause any
undue anxiety to the Effendi."

"Is he conscious?"

"His thoughts are in heaven, but his mind is clearer, praise be to
Allah."

"And the _Sitt_?" Michael said. "How did she get away?"

"She gave minute instructions to Hassan early in the evening." Abdul
salaamed. "_Aiwah_, honourable Effendi, you will be relieved of a
double anxiety--the _Sitt_ was greatly afraid."

"Yes, Abdul, I'm thankful, very thankful." Michael stretched out his
arms and breathed a deep breath of freedom. Thank God she had gone,
gone of her own free will! This, then, was the meaning of his sense of
liberation. The white tent was there no longer. It had vanished.

Then he remembered having stirred in his sleep. The bells he had heard
were the bells on the animals which were carrying the frightened
Millicent. Her _hijrah_ had not been achieved without affecting his
subconscious mind.

Meanwhile, Abdul was studying his master's mind. He was reading his
thoughts as one reads a story from the illustrations of a book. He saw
relief and freedom--and, above all, thankfulness. His master's
besetting sin was his dislike of scenes, his hypersensitiveness in the
matter of causing pain to others, the desire to surround himself with
happiness.

"_Gehenna_ to the harlo