But what is the use of telling her till the time comes?
The fewer in such a plot the better, and if anything goes wrong, it is well that she should be innocent, for then--" "Then death, and farewell to all things," said Godwin; "nor indeed should I grieve to say them good-bye.

But, Masouda, you run great peril.

Tell me now, honestly, why do you do this ?" As he spoke the lightning flashed and showed her face as she stood there against a background of green leaves and red lily flowers.

There was a strange look upon it--a look that made Godwin feel afraid, he knew not of what.
"Why did I take you into my inn yonder in Beirut when you were the pilgrims Peter and John?
Why did I find you the best horses in Syria and guide you to the Al-je-bal?
Why did I often dare death by torment for you there?
Why did I save the three of you?
And why, for all this weary while, have I--who, after all, am nobly born--become the mock of soldiers and the tire-woman of the princess of Baalbec?
"Shall I answer ?" she went on, laughing.

"Doubtless in the beginning because I was the agent of Sinan, charged to betray such knights as you are into his hands, and afterwards because my heart was filled with pity and love for--the lady Rosamund." Again the lightning flashed, and this time that strange look had spread from Masouda's face to the face of Godwin.
"Masouda," he said in a whisper, "oh! think me no vain fool, but since it is best perhaps that both should know full surely, tell me, is it as I have sometimes--" "Feared ?" broke in Masouda with her little mocking laugh.