"You are the chosen one. I wait for you to remember your mission, and to have done with the lesser drawing principle—"
Romney laughed. "It's a clash of the East and West," he said.
"But they thought you were of the East. They are waiting now in Peking—in the conviction of your loyalty—"
Romney turned away as if to sleep again.
The next morning when he shaved he cut himself twice, for his face was all unfamiliar with bone; and that evening he sat on the stone by the west wall of the court. There was no sound. The full moonless night came over him. The woman waved in the doorway. He arose at last and went out of the court, for there was no sound from the desert.
It was exactly so the next night, and during neither of these two days did he see Anna Erivan. On the third night he arose and left the court as usual, but there was a light speeding foot behind him, and her hand touched his sleeve.
"Oh, come back—send Bamban for your bags and come back!"
"My God—why?" he stammered.
"Do as I say—"
"But what have I done?"