frantic endeavour to precede him through the doorway. He flung his long
grey body across the Sheik's knees with a whine of pleasure and then
turned his head to growl at Diana. But the growl died away quickly, and
he lumbered down and came to her side curiously, eyeing her for a
moment and then thrusting his big head against her.

The Sheik laughed. "You are honoured. Kopec makes few friends."

She did not answer. The natural reply was almost certain to provoke a
retort that she did not desire, so she remained silent, smoothing the
hound's rough coat. With her heart turning slowly to lead she lingered
over her coffee until there was no further possible pretext for
remaining at the table, then rose with a short, sharp sigh.

For some minutes the Sheik had sat silent, his own coffee long since
finished. He made no comment when she got up, and went himself to the
big divan, followed by the hound, who had gone back to him as soon as
he moved.

Diana turned to the little bookcase, snatching at the opportunity it
offered for further silence, and took a book at random. She did not
know what she was looking at, she did not care. She only prayed
fervently that she might be left alone, that the sudden silent fit that
had come over him might continue.

Near her Gaston was clearing away the table and as he finished he
paused to speak to his master. Diana heard the words "le petit Sheik,"
but the rest was in Arabic and unintelligible to her. The Sheik frowned
with a gesture of annoyance, then nodded, and the servant left the
tent.