"Speak! Thou hast news of her? She is gone?" Briefly David told him how
Zaida was found upon her sister's grave. Kaid's face was turned away as
he listened.
"She spoke no word of me?" Kaid said at last. "To whom should she speak?"
David asked gently. "But the amulet thou gavest her, set with one red
jewel, it was clasped in her hand in death."
Suddenly Kaid's anger blazed. "Now shall Achmet die," he burst out. "His
hands and feet shall be burnt off, and he shall be thrown to the
vultures."
"The Place of the Lepers is sacred even from thee, Effendina," answered
David gravely. "Yet Achmet shall die even as Harrik died. He shall die
for Egypt and for thee, Effendina."
Swiftly he drew the picture of Achmet at the monastery in the desert. "I
have done the unlawful thing, Effendina," he said at last, "but thou wilt
make it lawful. He hath died a thousand deaths--all save one."
"Be it so," answered Kaid gloomily, after a moment; then his face lighted
with cynical pleasure as he scanned once more the faces of the crowd
before him.
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