"’It is because you do not love!’ said she quite low ’Before Allah, am I not fair? Why have I not your love? Look—we are alone. See how I hold you, feel my heart here, behold my eyes—ah!’ Her face was close to his. ’If love lay in your heart, you could not stand thus’ she whispered. "’Stop!’ he cried ’You cannot see...’ "’I cannot see, my eyes are dim with love!’ "He thrust her away suddenly, as if in fear. ’Listen’ said he in a dead voice ’For many years I have followed a woman who would not love me. To the ends of the earth I have followed her, until I am weary, and heartsick, and must forget. I have left my home, I have forsaken my friends. But now I must return. Dear heart’ said he ’if I were young and full of hope, I would not stand here idly, I would stay with you. But I have nothing left to offer. An old heart—broken—a brain without fire...’ "’I will make well the heart, and fire the brain!’ she cried. "He swayed toward her, met her in a brief embrace—then broke away. She gave a little cry. ’You will not?’ said she ’I cannot ask again’ "’Dear, it is not to hurt you...’ he began ’Why won’t you understand?’ He covered his face with his hands ’Oh, God, why can’t I make you understand?’ "She pointed toward the house. ’It is because your friend has come’ said she fiercely ’Never before have you been as to-night. Never before have you refused me. He brings you memory, and now you think of home. I should have killed him when I stood at his side!’ She fell back a step, a savage figure, magnificently tall ’So—you have chosen’ said she ’This which I offer, you throw down. What is it that you seek? What will you find? Is love so strong in your land, are nights like this, is happiness so deep? In convent-school I learned otherwise’ He put out his hand; she drew away like a wild creature. ’No! It is done’ she cried. "A moment passed. He stood irresolute, the plaything of fate, while she devoured him with her eyes. Then, with a swift motion, she left him standing in the grass, and ran toward the shadow. He started to follow. She must have turned at the border of the jungle; I couldn’t see her clearly, but she seemed to make a violent gesture, and the moonlight struck sharply on a bracelet that she wore" *VI* "Bert spent the following day with me aboard the ship; I had decided to remain another night in Anjer. We found much to talk about, but didn’t approach the incident outside my window that morning; although I’d felt certain that he, not suspecting my awareness, would broach the subject. In fact, I more than once adroitly guided the conversation in this direction; but his mouth was closed. This gave me both alarm and satisfaction; at least, he took the affair with the seriousness that it deserved.