seemed so much a part of his mount as this quaint foreigner. "I suppose
he is an Austrian," she said to herself, and then added with English
insular arrogance, "Only Austrians are like us."

The young man appeared quite indifferent to anything she thought. He
prepared to lead the way down beyond the Sphinx, apparently into the
desert.

Now that he was in front of her, Tamara could not help admiring the
lines of his figure. He was certainly a very decent shape, and
certainly knew how to ride.

Then it came to her that this was a most singular adventure, and the
faint pink mounted to her clear cheeks when she remembered how
dreadfully shocked Millicent would be--or any of the family! But it was
her night of rebellion, so things must take their course.

The young man rode in front until they were on the flat desert, then he
drew rein and waited for her.

"You see," he said, "we skirt these rocks and then we shall ride
through the village. One can very well imagine it has been the same
always."

They entered the little town. The streets were extremely narrow and the
dark houses gave an air of mystery--a speculation--what could be going
on behind those closed shutters? Here and there a straight blue-clad
figure slunk away round a corner. There was a deep silence and the
moonlight made the shadows sharp as a knife. Then a shaft of red light
would shoot from some strange low hovel as they passed, and they could