"Ishmael," she said, trembling all over, "there is something I wish to say—if it will not displease you."
"Nothing the Rani can say will displease me," said Ishmael.
He was looking at her with the expression of enthusiastic admiration which she had seen in his eyes before. It was hard to go on.
"Your intentions are now known to everybody," she said. "You have not hidden them from any of your own people. That has been very trustful, very noble, but still——"
"Still—what, my sister?"
"If somebody ... should betray your scheme to the Government, and ... and the moment you set foot in Cairo——"
Again Ishmael interrupted her with a laugh.
"Impossible!" he said, smiling upon her with his bright and joyous eyes. "Islam has only one heart, one soul, one mind."
Then taking her quivering hand and leading her to the door, he pointed to the camp outside and said—
"Look! Ten thousand of our poor unhappy people are there. They have come to me from the tyrannies of cruel taskmasters and have been true to me through the temptations of hunger and thirst. Some of them are from Cairo and are waiting to return home. All are the children of Islam, and are looking for the coming of the Expected who brings peace and joy. Is there one of them who will betray me now? Not one! Treachery would injure me, but it would hurt the betrayer more."