"I've no wish to prevent him showing practical repentance," she answered,
keenly alive to his suggestion, and a little nettled. "It means no more
slavery. Gordon will prevent that."

"Will he?" asked Kingsley, again with muffled mockery.

"He is the foe of slavery. How many, many letters I have had from him!
He will save the Soudan--and Egypt too."

"He will be badly paid--the Government will stint him. And he will give
away his pay--if he gets any."

She did not see his aim, and her face fell. "He will succeed for all
that."

"He can levy taxes, of course."

"But he will not-for himself."

"I will give him twenty thousand pounds, if he will take it."

"You--you!--will give him--" Her eyes swam with pleasure. "Ah, that is
noble! That makes wealth a glory, to give it to those who need it. To
save those who are down-trodden, to help those who labour for the good of
the world, to--" she stopped short, for all at once she remembered-
remembered whence his money came. Her face suffused. She turned to the
door. Confusion overmastered her for the moment. Then, anger at herself
possessed her. On what enterprise was she now embarked? Where was her
conscience? For what was she doing all this? What was the true meaning
of her actions? Had it been to circumvent the Khedive? To prevent him