or joy at sight of Victoria's handwriting. There were only a
few lines, in pencil, but he knew that he would keep them always, with
her first letter.

"Oh, how glad I am that you're here!" she wrote. "By and by I hope to
thank you--but of course I can't come without my sister. She is
wretched, and wants to leave the man who seems to her no longer a
husband, but she thinks he will not want to let her go. Tell him that it
must be both of us, or neither. Or if you feel it would be better, give
him this to read, and ask him to send an answer."

Stephen guessed why the girl had written in French. She had fancied that
the marabout would not choose to admit his knowledge of English, and he
admired the quickness of her wit in a sudden emergency.

As he handed the letter to the Arab, Stephen would have given a great
deal to see the face under the black mask. He could read nothing of the
man's mind through the downcast eyelids, with their long black fringe of
close-set lashes. And he knew that Ben Halim must have finished the
short letter at least sixty seconds before he chose to look up from the
paper.

"It is best," the marabout said slowly, "that the two sisters go
together. A man of Islam has the right to repudiate a woman who gives
him no children, but I have been merciful. Now an opportunity has come
to rid myself of a burden, without turning adrift one who is helpless
and friendless. For my son's sake I have granted thy request; for my own
sake I grant the girl's request: but both, only on one condition--that
thou swearest in the name of thy God, and upon the head of thy father,
never to breathe with thy lips, or put with thy hand upon paper, the
malicious story about me, at which thou hast to-day hinted; that thou
enforce upon the two sisters the same silence, which, before going, they
must promise me to guard for ever. Though there is no foundation for the
wicked fabrication, and no persons of intelligence who know me would
believe it, even if I had no proof, still for a man who holds a place of
spiritual eminence, evil gossip is a disgrace."

"I promise for myself, for my friend, and for both the ladies, silence
on that subject, so long as we may live. I swear before my God, and on
the head of my dead father, that I will keep my word, if you keep yours
to me," said Stephen, who knew only half the secret. Yet he was
astonished at gaining his point so easily. He had expected more trouble.
Nevertheless, he did not see