“I’m waiting.” Lacey drew back to the gateway again and leaned against the wall, his cigar blazing in the dusk.
A moment later David appeared in the garden again, with the slim, graceful figure of the girl who stood “upon her own feet.” David drew her aside for a moment. “Thee is going at once to England?” he asked.
“To-morrow to Alexandria. There is a steamer next day for Marseilles. In a fortnight more I shall be in England.”
“Thee must forget Egypt,” he said. “Remembrance is not a thing of the will,” she answered.
“It is thy duty to forget. Thee is young, and it is spring with thee. Spring should be in thy heart. Thee has seen a shadow; but let it not fright thee.”
“My only fear is that I may forget,” she answered.
“Yet thee will forget.”
With a motion towards Lacey he moved to the gate. Suddenly she turned to him and touched his arm. “You will be a great man herein Egypt,” she said. “You will have enemies without number. The worst of your enemies always will be your guest to-night.”
He did not, for a moment, understand. “Nahoum?” he asked. “I take his place. It would not be strange; but I will win him to me.”
“You will never win him,” she answered. “Oh, trust my instinct in this! Watch him. Beware of him.” David smiled slightly. “I shall have need to beware of many. I am sure thee does well to caution me. Farewell,” he added.