Not that he could, anyhow."
"But Si Maieddine's been very ill since he came back, M'Barka says. Mr.
Knight will ask for the marabout."
"Maieddine will hear of him. Not five Europeans in five years come to
Oued Tolga. If only Maieddine hadn't got back! This man may have been
following him, from Algiers. It looks like it, as Maieddine arrived
only yesterday. Now, here's this Englishman! Could he have found out in
any way, that you were acquainted with Maieddine?"
"I don't know, but he might have guessed," said Victoria. "I wonder----"
"What? Have you thought of something?"
"It's just an idea. You know, I told you that on the journey, when Si
Maieddine was being very kind to me--before I knew he cared--I made him
a present of the African brooch you gave me in Paris. I hated to take so
many favours of him, and give nothing in return; so I thought, as I was
on my way to you and would soon see you, I might part with that brooch,
which he admired. If Si Maieddine wore it in Algiers, and Mr. Knight
saw----"
"Would he be likely to recognize it, do you think?"
"He noticed it on the boat, and I told him you gave it to me."
"If he would come all the way from Algiers on the strength of a brooch
which might have been yours, and you _might_ have given to Maieddine,
then he's a man who knows what he wants, and deserves to get it," Saidee
said. "If he _could_ help us! I should feel rewarded for telling Honore
I wouldn't go with him; because some day I may be free, and then perhaps
I shall be glad I waited----"
"You will be glad.
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