Not as such, however, did Ishmael’s unsuspecting nature recognise the lady’s embarrassment, but setting it down to the heat of the day, for the khamseen, the hot wind, was blowing, he clapped his hands for water. The Arab woman brought it in, although it was Abdullah’s task to do so, and she lingered long in the room, and looked searchingly at the lady while Ishmael again recited his oath. The lady did not at first respond, but continued to look out at the open door on to the slow waters of the White Nile, and there was silence in the air both within and without, save for the far-off hammering from the dockyards across the river. At length she asked in a tremulous voice— "Master, is this necessary?" Ishmael reflected for a moment and then said— "No, it is not necessary, and we shall do without it. What says the Lord of the Christians? ’Swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool.’" The lady drew a long breath of relief and went on with her foreign newspapers. *CHAPTER IV* Hardly had "the Princess" gone for the day when the Arab woman, Zenoba, with all her dusky face contracted into lines of jealousy, came to Ishmael to warn him. "Forgive me, O Master," she said, "if the thing I say displeases you." "What is it, O Zenoba?" asked Ishmael. "Is it well to trust the secrets of God and of His people to two tongues and four eyes?" Ishmael’s face darkened visibly, but he held himself in check and answered with dignity— "Zenoba, ask pardon of God for a suspicious mind. The least of all noble traits is to keep a secret, the greatest is to forget that you have confided it." The Arab woman was stung by the rebuke, but assuming the meekest expression of face she changed her course entirely. "Master, I beg of you to listen to me until I have done," she said, and then she began to talk of the visits of the white lady. The lady was young and beautiful. Evil minds were many. If she were to come to Ishmael’s house every day and to be closeted alone with him, what would people say? "Forgive me, O Master; it is nothing to me, and I have no right to speak," said the Arab woman, with the agony of a jealous spirit imprinted on every feature of her face. "I only wish to put you on your guard against the slanderous tongues that would love to injure you." Ishmael listened to her with the look of a man who had never once reflected on the interpretation that might be put upon his conduct, and then he said— "You are right, O Zenoba, and I thank you for reminding me of something I had permitted myself to forget." When the white lady came next day, Ishmael began to speak to her about her position in his house. "My sister," he said, "I have been thinking this is not good. The thoughts of the world are evil, and if you continue to come here according to the agreement we made together your pure name will be tarnished."