"I haven't a doubt of it," said Ryder quickly, "but the French law
might begin to entertain doubts of it, if mademoiselle were married
off now without consultation with the authorities.... Already," he
added a little meaningly, as the other shrugged the suggestion away,
"there have been questions raised concerning the mother's marriage
and the separation of the little Mademoiselle Delcassé from her
relatives in France, and now if she were to be married without any
legal settlement of her estate--"

Steadily he sustained the other's gaze, while his unfinished thought
seemed to float significantly in the air about them.

"Have a cigarette," said the pasha hospitably, extending a gold case
monogrammed with diamonds and emeralds. "Ah, coffee!" he announced,
welcomingly, as a little black boy entered with a brass tray of
steaming cups.

"I hope, gentlemen, that you like my coffee. It is not the usual
Turkish brew. No, this comes from Aden, the finest coffee in the
world. A ship captain brings it to me, especially."

Beamingly he sipped the scalding stuff, then darted back to that
suspended sentence. "But you were saying--something of a
trusteeship?... Do I understand that it is an aunt of Madame
Delcassé--the former Madame Delcassé--who is leaving this money?"

"Not of Madame but of Monsieur Delcassé," McLean informed him.

"Ah!... That accounts ... But in that case, then, there need be no