He was leaning forward with parted lips and a look in his eyes which Hatch had not seen that evening--a look as if hope had somehow dared to lift its head within him.

And there was more than a look of hope; there was savagery too.
"No.

I want to hear," replied Shere Ali.

"Go on, please! How did the Englishwoman come to Mecca ?" "She was a governess in the family of an officer at Cawnpore when the Mutiny broke out, more than forty years ago," said Hatch.
Ralston leaned back in his chair with an exclamation of horror.

Shere Ali said nothing.