and stepped between David and Nahoum. He could not bear that the
stricken face and figure should be seen by Nahoum, whom he believed to be
secretly gloating. "Saadat," he said brokenly, "God has always been with
you; He hasn't forgotten you now.

"The work of years," David murmured, and seemed not to hear.

"When God permits, shall man despair?" interposed Nahoum, in a voice
that lingered on the words. Nahoum accomplished what Lacey had failed to
do. His voice had pierced to some remote corner in David's nature, and
roused him. Was it that doubt, suspicion, had been wakened at last? Was
some sensitive nerve touched, that this Oriental should offer Christian
comfort to him in his need--to him who had seen the greater light? Or
was it that some unreality in the words struck a note which excited a new
and subconscious understanding? Perhaps it was a little of all three.
He did not stop to inquire. In crises such as that through which he was
passing, the mind and body act without reason, rather by the primal
instinct, the certain call of the things that were before reason was.

"God is with the patient," continued Nahoum; and Lacey set his teeth to
bear this insult to all things. But Nahoum accomplished what he had not
anticipated. David straightened himself up, and clasped his hands behind
him. By a supreme effort of the will he controlled himself, and the
colour came back faintly to his face. "God's will be done," he said,
and looked Nahoum calmly in the eyes. "It was no accident," he added
with conviction. "It was an enemy of Egypt." Suddenly the thing rushed
over him again, going through his veins like a poisonous ether, and
clamping his heart as with iron. "All to do over again!" he said
brokenly, and again he caught Lacey's arm.