Maybe his guilty
conscience made him think I knew more than I did. I hope he expects to
have the whole power of France down on him, as well as the United
States, which I waved over his head, Miss Ray being an American. Of
course I remembered your advice, Nevill, and was tactful--for her sake,
for fear anything should be visited on her. I didn't say I thought he
was hiding her in the Zaouia. I put it as if I wanted his help in
finding her. But naturally he expects me back again; and we must make
our plans to storm the fortress and reduce it to subjection. There isn't
an hour to waste, either, since this necklace, and Captain Sabine's
knowledge, have proved to us that she's there. Too bad we didn't know it
earlier, as we might have done something decisive in the beginning. But
now we do know, with Captain Sabine's good will and introduction we may
get the military element here to lend a hand in the negotiations. A
European girl can't be shut up with impunity, I should think, even in
this part of the world. And the marabout has every reason not to get in
the bad books of the French."
"He is in their very best books at present," said Sabine. "He is
thought much of. The peace of the southern desert is largely in his
hands. My country would not be easily persuaded to offend him. It might
be said in his defence that he is not compelled to tell strangers if he
has a European wife, and her sister arrives to pay her a visit.
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