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know that。 I thought he'd go to some lengths to get her back； but I didn't realize 。 。 。 Paternal affection isn't one of my strong points。 I told you about Maryam； didn't I？〃
〃Who？〃 I had to repeat the question。 He was half asleep； wandering a little in his mind。
〃Maryam。 Molly。 That's the name you knew 。 。 。 She's gone。〃
〃Dead？〃 I gasped。 〃Your daughter？〃
〃No。 Gone。 Left。 Ran away。 Hates me。 Because of her mother。 She's living proof of heredity。 Got the worst of both parents。 Poor little devil 。 。 。 She is； you know。 Amelia 。 。 。〃
〃It's all right；〃 I said softly； taking the hand that groped for mine。 〃Everything will be all right。 Sleep now。〃
I sat by him until his hand relaxed and the lines on his face smoothed out。 I had intended … oh； I admit it … to take advantage of his drowsy state to wring information out of him； but I had not expected revelations so intimate； so personal； so painful。
His daughter had been fourteen years of age when I knew her。 She must be sixteen now。 Her mother had been Sethos's lover and partner in crime； but her tigerish affection had turned to jealous hatred when she realized his heart belonged to another。 （Me； in fact； or so he claimed。） She tried several times to kill me and succeeded in assassinating one of my dearest friends before she met her end at the hands of those who had been an instant too late to save him。
How much of that terrible story did the child know？ If she blamed her father for her mother's death； she could not know the whole truth。 He had not even been present when she died； and she had led a life of crime and depravity before she met Sethos。 A moralist might hold him guilty of failing to redeem her； but in my opinion even a saint； which Sethos was not； would have found Bertha hard going。
I do not believe that the dead hand of heredity is the sole determinant of character。 Remembering Molly as I had last seen her； looking even younger than her actual age； the picture of freckled； childish innocence 。 。 。 But she hadn't looked so innocent the day I found her in Ramses's room with her dress half off … by her own act； I should add。 If I had not happened to be passing by … if Ramses had not had the good sense to summon me at once … or if he had been another kind of man； the kind of man she hoped he was … he might have found himself in an extremely interesting situation。
That proved nothing。 She had not deliberately set out to seduce or shame him； she had been young and foolish and infatuated。 My heart swelled with pity； for her and for the man who lay sleeping on the bed； his face pale and drawn with fatigue。 He had not known how much he loved her until he lost her； and he blamed himself。 How wonderful it would be if I could bring father and child together again！
It was a happy thought； but not practical … for the present； at any rate。 We had to get through the current difficulty first。 With a sigh I slipped my hand from his and tiptoed out of the room。
〃Well？〃 Emerson demanded。 〃You've been the devil of a long time。 How much were you able to get out of him？〃
〃We were right about him； of course；〃 I replied； seating myself next to him as his gesture invited。 〃He is no traitor。 His mission was to remove Sahin Bey … Pasha。〃
〃Kill him； you mean？〃 Ramses asked。
〃He didn't say。 But surely Sethos would not …〃
〃Sahin is a dangerous enemy and this is wartime。 However；〃 Ramses said thoughtfully； 〃the same purpose would be served if Sahin Pasha were to be disgraced and removed from his position。 In the last week he's lost me； his daughter； and now Ismail Pasha； whose flight will prove to their satisfaction that he was a British spy。 Careless； to say the least！〃
〃More than careless；〃 Emerson exclaimed。 〃Highly suspicious； to say the least！ With that lot； you are guilty until proven innocent。 By Gad； my boy； I believe you are right。 It's like Sethos to concoct such a devious scheme。 If the Turks believe； as they well may； that Sahin Pasha has been a double agent all along； they will have to reorganize their entire intelligence network。 It could take months。〃
〃And in the meantime they would be without their best and cleverest man；〃 I added。 〃Sethos said that once Sahin was out of the way； they could proceed with 。 。 。 something。〃
〃What？〃
〃He didn't say。〃
〃And who is 'they'？〃 Nefret asked。 〃Who is he working for？ Not Cartright and 'that lot'？〃
〃He … er … didn't say。〃
Emerson brought his fist down on the table； rattling the crockery。 〃What did he say？ Good Gad； you were with him for almost three quarters of an hour。〃
〃How do you know that？〃 I demanded。 〃You haven't a watch。〃
This time my attempt to distract him and put him on the defensive did not succeed。 〃Just answer the question； Peabody。 What were you talking about all that while？〃
〃Personal matters。 Oh； Emerson； for pity's sake； don't grind your teeth。 I wanted to make certain he was asleep before I left him。 The man is on the edge of nervous collapse。 He has been living for months under conditions of intolerable strain。 He must not be allowed to return to Gaza。〃
〃He wouldn't be such a fool；〃 Emerson muttered。
〃He would if he believed Sir Edward had gone there to look for him。〃
〃He wouldn't be such a fool；〃 Emerson declared。
〃He would if he believed his leader was in danger。 They have been friends for a long time。 I am going to talk to Mustafa； perhaps Sir Edward said something to him。 And I promised to treat his sore 。 。 。 Ah； there you are； Esin。 You had a good long rest。〃
〃Yes。〃 Rubbing sleepy eyes； she took a seat on the divan next to Ramses。 〃What has happened？ Has my father …〃
〃Nothing has happened。 You are perfectly safe。 Are you hungry？ There must be something left on that tray。 Excuse me。 I won't be long。〃
Ramses acpanied me。 I had expected he or his father would do so； and on the whole I preferred Ramses to Emerson。 His questions were not likely to be so provocative。
〃I thought I'd better e along in case Mustafa's sore is located in a place Father would prefer you didn't examine；〃 he explained。
〃That is highly unlikely。〃
〃I was joking； Mother。〃
〃I know； my dear。〃
The skies were still overcast but the rain had stopped。 It dripped in mournful cadence from the eaves of the arcades around the courtyard。 I allowed Ramses to take my arm。
〃I am of the opinion that you are right about Sethos's intentions；〃 I said。 〃It was clever of you to reason it out。〃
〃Too clever； perhaps？ I'd hate to think my mind works along the same lines as his。〃
〃Whatever his original intentions； they have almost certainly had the effect you described。 Goodness； but this is a dreary place。 There doesn't seem to be a soul about。 Mustafa？〃
〃He's probably with the horses；〃 Ramses said。
Mustafa heard our voices and emerged from the shed。 〃I was talking to the horses；〃 he said。 〃They are fine animals。 Is there something you lack； Sitt Hakim？〃
〃Not at the moment。 I want to talk to you； Mustafa。 And treat your sore 。 。 。 Where is it？〃
Mustafa sat down on a bench and held out his foot。 It was bare and callused and very dirty。
〃You will have to wash it first；〃 I said。
〃Wash？〃 Mustafa repeated in astonishment。
Ramses； who appeared to be enjoying himself very much； fetched a bucket of water and we persuaded Mustafa to put his foot into it。 I had brought a bar of Pear's soap with me； since I knew that modity is not mon in houses of the region。 After a vigorous scrubbing the sore was apparent … an infected big toe； which he must have stubbed and then neglected。 The alcohol made Mustafa's eyes pop。
〃I am going to bandage your foot；〃 I said； applying gauze and sticking plaster liberally。 〃But you must keep it clean。 Change the bandage every day and wash it。〃
〃Is that all？〃 Mustafa asked。
〃That should …〃
Ramses coughed loudly。 〃Will you say the proper words； Mother； or shall I？〃
〃Incantations are more in your line than mine；〃 I replied in English。 〃Proceed。〃
Once that essential part of the treatment was pleted； Mustafa was satisfied； and I got down to business。
〃Did Sir Edward tell you where he was going？〃
〃No。〃 Mustafa held up his foot and studied the bandage。 〃He took the mule。〃
〃You have a mule？〃
〃Two。 He took one。