"He that troubleth his own house, saith the Koran, shall inherit the wind. Will you, my brother, allow your daughter to be separated from the brave man who loves her? A woman is tender and sweet; all she wants is love; and love is a sacred thing, sir. Your daughter is your flesh and blood—will you make her unhappy? I see a day when you are dead—will it comfort you in the grave that two who should be together are apart?" "They’re apart already, so that’s over and done with," said the General. "But listen to me again, sir. My girl needs none of your pity. She has done her duty as a soldier’s daughter, and cut off the traitor whom you, and men like you, appear to have corrupted. Look here—and here," he cried, pointing to the broken sword and the medals which were still lying where he had flung them on the floor. "The man has gone—gone in disgrace and shame. That’s what you’ve done for him, if it’s any satisfaction to you to know it. As for my daughter," he said, raising his voice in his gathering wrath and striding up to Ishmael with heavy steps and the jingling of his spurs, "As for my daughter, Helena, I will ask you to be so good as to keep her name out of it—do you hear? Keep her name out of it, or else——" [Illustration: "Look here—and here," he cried, pointing to the broken sword] At that moment the men heard the door open and a woman’s light footsteps behind them. It was Helena coming into the room. "Did you call me, father?" she asked. "No; go back immediately." She looked doubtfully at the two men, who were now face to face as if in the act of personal quarrel, hesitated, seemed about to speak, and then, went out slowly. There was silence for a moment after she was gone, and then Ishmael said— "Do I understand you to say, sir, that Colonel Lord has gone in disgrace?" "Yes, for consorting with the enemies of his country and refusing to obey the order of his General." "Lost his place and rank as a soldier?" "Soon will, and then he will be alone and have you to thank for it." The Egyptian drew himself up to his full height and answered, "You are wrong, sir. He who has no one has God, and if that brave man has suffered rather than do an evil act, will God forget him? No!" "God will do as He thinks best without considering either you or me, sir," said the General. "But I have something to do and I will ask you to leave me.... Or wait one moment! Lest you should carry away the impression that because Colonel Lord has refused to obey his General’s order the order will not be obeyed—wait and see." He touched the bell and called for his Aide-de-camp. "Tell Colonel Macdonald to come to me immediately," said the General, and when the Aide-de-camp had gone he turned to his desk for papers. The Egyptian, who had never moved from his place by the sofa, now took one step forward and said in a low, quivering voice—