It was very curious." Her father looked up at her for a moment, wondering what would happen if he were to explain the mysterious antipathy there and then.

The little theological discussion would look very small after such a revelation as that.

But he, too, had had a revelation which the somewhat desultory conversation had done something to press home upon him.

He had seen the advent of the Queen, and heard what she had said to Phadrig with other eyes and ears than his guests had done, for to them it had only been Nitocris who had gone to him and said a few inaudible words, which they had taken as a request for the conclusion of his "performance." He had seen back through the mists of many centuries and recognised them as they had been, and he had learned that Oscarovitch the Russian had now entered the circle of the Queen's, and therefore his own, influence.
A sudden anxiety for the safety of his darling Niti had awakened in his heart.

He had seen the lust for possession flame in the man's eyes, and now that he knew who he was--and had been--he determined that whatever other adventurer might set the world aflame, the Modern Skobeleff should not do it if he and his Royal ally on the Higher Plane could prevent it.
His coming had been a curious coincidence, possibly a consequence of obscure causes; but, for some reason or other, he felt himself beginning to look with a more favourable eye on Commander Mark Merrill--perhaps because he was the impersonation of uncompromising hostility to everything that Oscarovitch represented.
Dinner had come to an end now, and so Nitocris took advantage of ending a conversation which bade fair to become somewhat awkward.