es a vivid picture of the surroundings which had
witnessed their last meeting. Millicent knew that Michael was seeing
it as clearly as though they had been standing together under the
golden stars, the tents dotted about on the pale night sands. She
could hear the sick man reciting _suras_ from the Koran in sonorous
tones.

"And she thinks he found the treasure?" Michael said the words
absently, as though his mind was occupied with distant visions.

"Yes--he was a likely character to do the deed."

"Does she know anything about him--where he went to?"

"No, Mike, but I do." Margaret spoke gently. "Millicent has been very
ill. She only heard yesterday that the Government had anticipated your
discovery. She came to try and help you. She is in trouble."
Margaret's voice told Michael more than her words.

"She scarcely deserves your pity," he said. "Only her own heart knows
how she has tricked us both . . . there are some things one cannot
forgive . . . Millicent knows."

The black figure slipped from the couch to the floor. "Look, I will
kneel at your Margaret's feet," she said in tones of abject shame.
"Tell her everything. Tell her what a beast she has been kind to. She
ought to know." She raised her head. "I think I shall enjoy the
agony--anything but this living death."

She pressed her hands on Margaret's feet. "I am far worse than you
knew! You are not made like me, you won't even understand if he tells
you the things I did."

"I don't wish to speak of it to Margaret," Michael said. "Get up. I
have seen your penitence once too often to believe in it now--get up."

"Oh," Millicent moaned, "I know, I know! You think this is just
another bit of the old Millicent. It isn't--it is true."

"Get up," Margaret said kindly. "I was only trying to be kind because
. . . well, perhaps it is because I am so happy myself that I can
afford to forgive you. Don't kneel like that . . . I hate to see you.
Michael knows how little I deserve it . . . I have hated you with all
my heart and soul, I have longed for my revenge."

"My God!" Michael said quickly, "I hate to see the little coward near
you! How dared you come? Get up!" he said again. "And clear out! I
thought we had finished with you for ever!"

Millicent dragged herself to her feet. She stood before him, a
slender, nun-like figure; one of the black shawls which enveloped her
had fallen to the floor.

"Go on, say all you feel--I deserv