“Tomorrow evening, probably,” called Mr. Bindane, waving his hand to them; and, “No hurry,” replied Kate, casually: “we’ll be quite all right.”
With that he moved away, riding with the fat Egyptian from the Ministry of Agriculture. Behind him followed the police-officer and the native secretary, and after them went their servants and baggage camels.
As the cavalcade passed out of sight behind the palm-trees, Kate turned to her friend. “Now for a quiet time with the ointment pot,” she laughed; but her words were checked as she observed the surprising expression on Muriel’s face. “Why, what’s the matter?” she exclaimed.
Muriel caught hold of her arm. “Kate,” she said, “I’m going to shock you. I’m going to Daniel.”
Mrs. Bindane stood perfectly still, her hands upon her hips in the manner of a fishwife. “What the Hell d’you mean?” she asked.
Muriel confronted her, the monkey expression suddenly developing upon her face—her jaw set, her eyes wide open. “I’m going to leave you, Kate,” she said. “I made up my mind in the night. I can’t bear it another moment: I’m going to start at once.”
“Don’t be a damned fool,” her friend ejaculated, angrily.
Muriel shrugged her shoulders. “I shall take my dragoman with me,” she went on. “He knows all the roads hereabouts. I shall be quite safe. I’m going to Daniel for a fortnight: I’ve thought it all out, and I know now that’s what he’s been wanting me to do. You’ll find me at El Hamrân when you come there—if you do come, and, if not, I’ll join you here.”
“But, my good idiot,” cried her friend, “there’ll be the most awful scandal! What d’you think Benifett will say?”
“I’ll leave that for you to find out,” she answered. “I don’t see Master Benifett changing his plans for anybody. You can say I was ill, and therefore went off to Daniel so that I shouldn’t spoil your trip or delay you. Father need never know, and I’m sure Benifett won’t give me away. Not that a scandal isn’t just what he wants. Doesn’t he want to oblige Daniel to remain here in the Oases?—Oh, but I know what I’m doing. Daniel never wanted to marry me: he wanted me to run away with him.”