It was extremely pretty, for on the far horizon, out of the air seemingly, grew a delicate ethereal vision of spires and temples and embattled walls, all white and glorious against a blue sky, quivering with heat. But Clarice was too restless to be tempted with such pleasures, and walked out of the tent, while Ackworth settled with the Arab attendant. Here and there she looked in vain for the purple domino, but could see no sign. The Desert was filling rapidly, and there was much laughter and much talking. Camels paced about in a stately manner, the troupes of Bedouins were performing their raids and displaying wonderful horsemanship, and from the near tents came the chatter of merry people, enjoying the unaccustomed food. Shortly Anthony, adjusting his mask, joined her, and they stood watching for the coming of the man who was so ardently wanted by the police. In a few minutes Ackworth touched Clarice's arm, and drew her attention silently to a couple of men in evening dress, and unmasked, who were walking towards an oasis some distance away. Clarice nearly betrayed herself by a feminine scream of surprise, when she beheld Sir Daniel Jerce arm in arm with Barras, the lawyer. "What does that mean?" she asked, in a low, astonished voice. Anthony shrugged his square shoulders. "There's nothing remarkable about that," he said, lightly. "Jerce, I suppose, feels the need of a little excitement after his hard work, so comes here." "It's not the kind of place I should expect him to visit," said Miss Baird, staring after the retreating figures; "and with Mr. Barras, too, who is the driest and most uninteresting of men. I should not have thought that he would go in for amusement of any kind." "Humph! Barras, like Jerce, may have two sides to his character." "The sides we don't know of, scarcely seem to be respectable," retorted the girl, who felt uneasy at the sight of the two men. "I wish you would follow them, Anthony," she added, as Jerce and his companion entered the central oasis, "and learn why they are here." "I don't see what good that would do, my dear. Besides, I wish to keep an eye on you and Osip." "Hush! Don't mention his name. There may be spies about. I wonder when he will come?" Anthony glanced at his watch. "It wants two minutes to ten," he remarked, quickly. "We had better go to the Omar Khayyám palm." "I go alone," said Clarice, hastily. "If he"--she did not mention the name--"sees me with you, he won't address me. Where is the palm you speak of?" "In the central oasis," said Ackworth, pointing; "see--the golden palm on the verge. But don't disappear into the oasis, Clarice, or I'll come after you. Get that chap to converse where I can see you from this tent. I'll smoke and have a drink, and keep an eye on you both."