“Good gracious! what treasure?”
“The treasure of gold and precious stones hidden in the gorge of the desert hills. None knows the place of it but I; and I will give it to none but him I love.”
“But you said that... Really, my dear, I don’t understand a bit! As for Mr. Freeman, he may care for Semitzin, for aught I know; but, I must confess, I think you’re mistaken in supposing he’s in love with you,—if that is what you mean. I met him before you did, you know; and if I were to tell you all that we——”
“What are you or Miriam to me?—Ah! she comes!—The treasure—by the turning of the white pyramid—six hundred paces—on the right—the arch——” Her voice died away. She covered her face with her hands, and trembled violently. Slowly she let them fall, and stared around her. “Grace, is it you? Has anything happened? How came I like this? What is it?”
“Well, if you don’t know, I’m afraid I can’t tell you. I had begun to think you had gone mad. It must be either that or somnambulism. Who is Semitzin?”
“Semitzin? I never heard of him.”
“It isn’t a man: it’s a princess. And the treasure?”
“Am I asleep or awake? What are you saying?”
“The white pyramid, you know——”
“Don’t make game of me, Grace. If I have done anything——”