A woman from without who
sang to her--a singing girl, an al'mah--she trusted with the paper to
warn thee, Effendina, in her name. Her heart had remembrance of thee. Her
foster-brother Mahommed Hassan is my servant. Him she told, and Mahommed
laid the matter before me this morning. Here is a sign by which thee will
remember her, so she said. Zaida she was called here." He handed over an
amulet which had one red gem in the centre.
Kaid's face had set into fierce resolution, but as he took the amulet his
eyes softened.
"Zaida. Inshallah! Zaida, she was called. She has the truth almost of the
English. She could not lie ever. My heart smote me concerning her, and I
gave her in marriage." Then his face darkened again, and his teeth showed
in malice. A demon was roused in him. He might long ago have banished the
handsome and insinuating Harrik, but he had allowed him wealth and
safety--and now . . .
His intention was unmistakable.
"He shall die the death," he said. "Is it not so?" he added fiercely to
David, and gazed at him fixedly.
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