"Look but a little way along the future, then, and say what thou seest. I feel that it will bring good fortune to touch the sand where the hand of Ourïeda has touched it."
Always now, he spoke of Victoria, or to her, as "Rose" (Ourïeda in Arabic); but as M'Barka gave her that name also, the girl could hardly object.
"I tell thee, instead it may bring thee evil."
"For good or evil, I will have the fortune now," Maïeddine insisted.
"Be it upon thy head, oh cousin, not mine. Take thy handful of sand, and make thy wish."
Maïeddine took it from the place Victoria had touched, and his wish was that, as the grains of sand mingled, so their destinies might mingle inseparably, his and hers.
M'Barka traced the three rows of mystic signs, and read her notebook, mumbling. But suddenly she let it drop into her lap, covering the signs with both thin hands.
"What ails thee?" Maïeddine asked, frowning.
"I saw thee stand still and let an opportunity slip by."
"I shall not do that."