As if to carry out this design, he took a step towards the Governor.
From his pocket, Barclay drew out a few sheets of faded, scented paper.
"Read this," he said quietly, handing them to the prisoner.
With some surprise, the Sultan took them.
On opening the letter, he started, for he recognised his mother's writing.
As he read on, his bronzed face whitened, and a dazed look came to his eyes, like a man reeling under a tremendous blow.
In a critical, but not unfriendly manner, Barclay studied his companion. He knew now why the Sultan of El-Ammeh differed so in appearance from the wild people he ruled.
On reaching Pansy, he had had Annette Le Breton's letter thrust into his hands. His daughter had had no greeting for him, only wild entreaties for him to save the Sultan. When Barclay read the tragic confession he was quite ready to do his best.
Then Pansy had told him more.
How Raoul Le Breton was the man she loved. But she did not say that Lucille Lemesurier was responsible for their parting. She led her father to believe that the discovery of the supposed black blood in her lover had been her "hole in the floor of heaven."