That was Stephen's opportunity, and he began to tell of his call at the
curiosity-shop. He expected Victoria to cry out with excitement when he
came to Mouni's description of the beautiful lady with "henna-coloured,
gold-powdered hair"; but though she flushed and her breath came and went
quickly as he talked, somehow the girl did not appear to be enraptured
with a new hope, as he had expected.
"My friend Caird proposes that he and I should motor to Tlemcen, which
it seems is near the Moroccan border, and interview Mouni," he said. "We
may be able to make sure, when we question her, that it was your sister
she served; and perhaps we can pick up some clue through what she lets
drop, as to where Ben Halim took his wife when he left Algiers--though,
of course, there are lots of other ways to find out, if this should
prove a false clue."
"You are both more than good," Victoria answered, "but I mustn't let you
go so far for me. Perhaps, as you say, I shall be able to find out in
other ways, from some one here in Algiers. It does sound as if it might
be my sister the maid spoke of to Mademoiselle Soubise. How I should
love to hear Mouni talk!--but you must wait, and see what happens,
before you think of going on a journey for my sake."
"If only there were some woman to take you, you might go with us," said
Stephen, more eagerly than he was aware, and thinking wild thoughts
about Lady MacGregor as a chaperon, or perhaps Mademoiselle Soubise--if
only she could be persuaded to leave her beloved shop, and wouldn't draw
those black brows of hers together as though tabooing a forbidden idea.
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