not for peace."

He started as he heard a step behind him, and turning, saw Dr.
Dean. The worthy little savant looked worried and preoccupied.

"I have had a letter from the Princess Ziska," he said, without
any preliminary. "She has gone to secures rooms at the Mena House
Hotel, which is situated close to the Pyramids. She regrets she
cannot enter into the idea of taking a trip up the Nile. She has
no time, she says, as she is soon leaving Cairo. But she suggests
that we should make up a party for the Mena House while she is
staying there, as she can, so she tells me, make the Pyramids much
more interesting for us by her intimate knowledge of them. Now, to
me this is a very tempting offer, but I should not care to go
alone."

"The Murrays will go, I am sure," murmured Gervase lazily. "At any
rate, Denzil will."

The Doctor looked at him narrowly.

"If Denzil goes, so will you go," he said. "Thus there are two
already booked for company. And I fancy the Fulkewards might like
the idea."

"The Princess is leaving Cairo?" queried Gervase presently, as
though it were an after thought.

"So she informs me in her letter. The party which is to come off
on Wednesday night is her last reception."