“Then it was all false that he was wounded—ah, that horrible story of his death!”
“Bismillah, it was not all false! The night before the great battle he was slightly wounded in the side. He neglected it, and fever came on; but he survived. His first messengers to us were killed, and that is why the news of the relief came so late. But all is well at last. I have come to say so to Lady Eglington—even before I went to the Effendina.” He made a gesture towards a huge and gaily-caparisoned dahabieh not far away. “Kaid was right about coming here. His health is better. He never doubted Claridge Pasha’s return; it was une idee fixe. He believes a magic hand protects the Saadat, and that, adhering to him, he himself will carry high the flower of good fortune and live for ever. Kismet! I will not wait to see Lady Eglington. I beg to offer to her my congratulations on the triumph of her countryman.”
His words had no ulterior note; but there was a shadow in his eyes which in one not an Oriental would have seemed sympathy.
“Pasha, Pasha!” the Duchess called after him, as he turned to leave; “tell me, is there any news from England—from the Government?”
“From Lord Eglington? No,” Nahoum answered meaningly. “I wrote to him. Did the English Government desire to send a message to Claridge Pasha, if the relief was accomplished? That is what I asked. But there is no word. Malaish, Egypt will welcome him!”
She followed his eyes. Two score of dahabiehs lay along the banks of the Nile, and on the shore were encampments of soldiers, while flags were flying everywhere. Egypt had followed the lead of the Effendina. Claridge Pasha’s star was in its zenith.
As Nahoum’s boat was rowed away, Hylda came on deck again, and the Duchess hastened to her. Hylda caught the look in her face. “What has happened? Is there news? Who has been here?” she asked.
The Duchess took her hands. “Nahoum has gone to tell Prince Kaid. He came to you with the good news first,” she said with a flutter.
She felt Hylda’s hands turn cold. A kind of mist filled the dark eyes, and the slim, beautiful figure swayed slightly. An instant only, and then the lips smiled, and Hylda said in a quavering voice: “They will be so glad in England.”
“Yes, yes, my darling, that is what Nahoum said.” She gave Nahoum’s message to her. “Now they’ll make him a peer, I suppose, after having deserted him. So English!”