"I am very,
very grateful for all thou hast done for me. I often lie awake in the
night, wondering how I can repay thee everything."
"When we come to the end of the journey, I will tell thee of a thing
thou canst do, for my happiness," Maieddine said in a low voice, as if
half to himself.
"Wilt thou tell me now to what place we are going? I should like to
know, and I should like to hear thee describe it."
He did not speak for a moment. Then he said slowly; "It is a grief to
deny thee anything, oh Rose, but the secret is not mine to tell, even to
thee."
"The secret!" she echoed. "Thou hast never called it a secret."
"If I did not use that word, did I not give thee to understand the same
thing?"
"Thou meanest, the secret about Cassim, my sister's husband?"
"Cassim ben Halim has ceased to live."
Victoria gave a little cry. "Dead! But thou hast made me believe, in
spite of the rumours, that he lived."
"I cannot explain to thee," Maieddine answered gloomily, as if hating to
refuse her anything. "In the end, thou wilt know all, and why I had to
be silent."
"But my sister?" the girl pleaded. "There is no mystery about her? Thou
hast concealed nothing which concerns Saidee?"
"Thou hast my word that I will take thee to the place where she is. Thou
gavest me thy trust. Give it me again."
"I have not taken it away. It is thine," said Victoria.
XXIX
That night they spent in a caravanserai, because, after the brief deluge
of rain, the ground was too damp for camping, when an invalid was of the
party.
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