"I called to see her. Her ladyship had gone into the country, the footman said. I saw the butler, a faithful soul, who would die--or clean the area steps--for her. He was discreet; but he knew what you and I are to her. It was he got the tickets--for Marseilles and Egypt." The Duchess began to cry silently. Big tears ran down a face from which the glow of feeling had long fled, but her eyes were sad enough. "Gone--gone! It is the end!" was all she could say. Lord Windlehurst frowned, though his eyes were moist. "We must act at once. You must go to Egypt, Betty. You must catch her at Marseilles. Her boat does not sail for three days. She thought it went sooner, as it was advertised to do. It is delayed--I've found that out. You can start to-night, and-- and save the situation. You will do it, Betty?" "I will do anything you say, as I have always done." She dried her eyes. "She is a good girl. We must do all we can. I'll arrange everything for you myself. I've written this paragraph to go into the papers to-morrow morning: 'The Duchess of Snowdon, accompanied by Lady Eglington, left London last night for the Mediterranean via Calais, to be gone for two months or more.' That is simple and natural. I'll see Eglington. He must make no fuss. He thinks she has gone to Hamley, so the butler says. There, it's all clear. Your work is cut out, Betty, and I know you will do it as no one else can." "Oh, Windlehurst," she answered, with a hand clutching at his arm, "if we fail, it will kill me." "If she fails, it will kill her," he answered, "and she is very young. What is in her mind, who can tell? But she thinks she can help Claridge somehow. We must save her, Betty." "I used to think you had no real feeling, Windlehurst. You didn't show it," she said in a low voice. "Ah, that was because you had too much," he answered. "I had to wait till you had less." He took out his watch. GLOSSARY Aiwa----Yes. Allah hu Achbar----God is most Great. Al'mah----Female professional singers, signifying "a learned female." Ardab----A measure equivalent to five English bushels. Backsheesh----Tip, douceur. Balass----Earthen vessel for carrying water. Bdsha----Pasha. Bersim----Clover. Bismillah----In the name of God. Bowdb----A doorkeeper. Dahabieh----A Nile houseboat with large lateen sails. Darabukkeh----A drum made of a skin stretched over an earthenware funnel. Dourha----Maize. Effendina----Most noble. El Azhar----The Arab University at Cairo. Fedddn----A measure of land representing about an acre. Fellah----The Egyptian peasant. Ghiassa----Small boat. Hakim----Doctor. Hasheesh----Leaves of hemp. Inshallah----God willing. Kdnoon----A musical instrument like a dulcimer. Kavass----An orderly. Kemengeh----A cocoanut fiddle. Khamsin----A hot wind of Egypt and the Soudan. Kourbash----A whip, often made of rhinoceros hide. La ilaha illa-llah----There is no deity but God.