'It is said openly in the city that you are a Shiyah and a Persian, having been a robber before you came here, and that you are plotting to deliver over Nejed to the Persians. Look to this, Khaled, for they say that you are no Bedouin since no one knows your descent nor the name of your father.' 'Do you believe this of me, Zehowah?' Khaled asked. 'Do I believe that the sun is black and the night as white as the sun? But it is true that I do not know your father's name.' Then Khaled was troubled, for he saw that it would be a hard matter to explain, and that without explanation his safety might be endangered. Zehowah sat still beside him, holding his hand and looking into his face, as though expecting an answer. 'Have I done wisely in telling you?' she asked at last. 'You are troubled. I should have said nothing.' 'You have done wisely,' he answered. 'For I will go and speak to them, and if they believe me, the matter is finished, but if not I have lost nothing.' 'It will be well to give the chief men presents, and to distribute something among the people, for gifts are great persuaders of unbelief.' 'Shall I give them presents because they have believed evil of me?' asked Khaled, laughing. 'Rather would I give you the treasures of the whole earth because you have not believed it.' 'If I had the wealth of the whole world I would give it to them rather than that they should hurt a hair of your head,' Zehowah answered. 'Am I more dear to you than so much gold, Zehowah?' 'What is gold that it should be weighed in the balance with the life of a man? You are dearer to me than gold.' 'Is this love, Zehowah?' Khaled asked, in a low voice. 'I do not know whether it be love or not.' 'The wing of night is lifted for a moment, and the false dawn is seen, and afterwards it is night again. But the true dawn will come by and by, when night folds her wings before the day.' 'You speak in a riddle, Khaled.' 'It is no matter. I will neither make a speech to the people, nor give them gifts. What is it to me? Let them chatter from the first call to prayer until the lights are put out in the evening. My fate is about my neck, and I cannot change it, any more than I can make you love me. Allah is great. I will wait and see what happens.' 'Everything is undoubtedly in Allah's hand,' said Zehowah. 'But if a man, having meat set before him, will not raise his right hand to thrust it into the dish, he will die of hunger.' 'And do you think that Allah does not know before whether the man will stretch out his hand or not?' 'Undoubtedly Allah knows. And he also knows that if you will not sift this matter and stop the mouths of the liars, I will, though I am but a woman, for otherwise we may both perish.'