The ball, which was delayed, is now fixed
for a week from to-morrow. I will show myself for some moments, and the
rest of the night I can devote to a talk with the caids. I know what the
result will be. And a fortnight from to-morrow thou wilt see me here
again with the letters."
"I believe thou wilt not fail," the marabout answered. "And neither will
I fail thee."
XL
On the night of the Governor's ball, it was four weeks to the day since
Stephen Knight and Nevill Caird had inquired for Victoria Ray at the
Hotel de la Kasbah, and found her gone.
For rather more than a fortnight, they had searched for her quietly
without applying to the police; but when at the end of that time, no
letter had come, or news of any kind, the police were called into
consultation. Several supposed clues had been followed, and had led to
nothing; but Nevill persuaded Stephen to hope something from the ball.
If any caids of the south knew that Roumis had a secret reason for
questioning them, they would pretend to know nothing, or give misleading
answers; but if they were drawn on to describe their own part of the
country, and the facilities for travelling through it, news of those who
had lately passed that way might be inadvertently given.
Stephen was no longer in doubt about his feelings for Victoria. He knew
that he had loved her ever since the day when she came to Nevill's
house, and they talked together in the lily garden.
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