difficulty. The agony at her heart was choking her.
"Why have they suddenly sent excavators to that particular spot, if
there is nothing there?"

"On the strength of the information given by a native."

"And what had the native found? Isn't it just too diabolical and
wicked?"

"It's jolly hard lines, but if Mike had gone there straight and as
quickly as he could, if he hadn't played the idiot, he'd have been
there before the native who has betrayed him."

While Freddy was speaking, thoughts came to Meg of her vision of
Akhnaton, of the strange and occult incidents connected with the story
of the hidden treasure.

"What do you mean by playing the fool?" she said. "Have you heard from
Michael? Have you any reliable ground for supposing that he played the
fool?" Meg's voice was beautifully scornful.

"I've heard again, that Millicent was with him. The facts are
undeniable. The whole thing makes me furious. Why couldn't he have
written to me and told me, if she followed him, as you suggested? His
silence condemns him."

"It makes me more than furious." Meg's voice was horrible in Freddy's
ears; it was older, shriller, cruelly defiant. "It makes me furious to
think how easily evil is believed of the absent, who can't defend
themselves."

They strode along. Both were walking blindly forward.

"It makes me sick, sick, sick!" She flung the words out and then broke
into a little cry. "Oh, Freddy, have you no faith? no trust? Is that
your friendship?"

"What can I do?" he said. "I'm not blinded with love as you are. I
see things dispassionately. I want to do what is best for you. Why
hasn't he written? I'm quite willing to believe what Michael tells
me--I don't doubt his word--but he has said nothing. This is another
example of his weakness."

"Do you believe that Millicent is still with him?"

"Her dragoman who took her into the desert has returned to Luxor. I
haven't seen him--he could tell us everything we want to know."

"The news came from him?" Meg's voice was a stinging reproach.

"Yes. He only remained in Luxor a few hours; he was going to his home
in Assiut, but he spread the story."

There was a pause.

"He took Millicent to Michael?"

"He took her into the desert; they met."

"And because we have had no word from Michael, no explanation, you are
ready to condemn him?" Meg's words were loyal, while her heart was
torn with jealousy.

"Meg," said Freddy gently, "will you