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Updated: June 11, 2025
He thought the latter had acted precipitately in getting out a warrant for Nur-el-Din's arrest before he, Desmond, had had time to get into the skin of his part. So Desmond heard Crook out and made no comment. When the other asked him if he had anything to tell the Chief, he shook his head. He was not to know then the consequences which his disobedience of orders was destined to have.
"And Madame Nur-el-Din?" queried Desmond innocently, but inwardly quaking at his rashness. Mortimer genially shook a finger at him. "Sly dog!" he chuckled, "you're one too many for me in that quarter, I see! I know all about your tete-a-tete with our charming young friend this afternoon!" Desmond felt the blood rush to his face. He thought of Nur-el-Din's words: "Mortimer sees and knows all."
Sunk in thought, he let Crook run on. He was wondering whether he ought to give him a message for the Chief, telling him of Nur-el-Din's visit and of her flight on the arrival of Mortimer. Now, Desmond had a good deal of pride, and like most proud people, he was inclined to be obstinate.
"Supposing Barney hadn't got himself nabbed, supposing I hadn't been able to find out from Miss Mackwayte her movements on the night previous to the murder, that strand of hair might have led me on a fine wild goose chase!" "But, damn it, Marigold," exclaimed the Chief, laughing, "you haven't told us whose hair it is?" "Why, Nur-el-Din's, of course!"
Therefore, both Strangwise and Nur-el-Din had an interest in detaining Miss Mackwayte, and I think Strangwise forestalled the dancer. When Nur-el-Din discovered it, both Rass and her maid paid the penalty of their betrayal." They walked once up and down the yard before Desmond replied. "Francis," he said, "you remember Nur-el-Din's story I told it to you just as I had it from her."
Was there anybody else in the room when she gave you the package?" "No," said Barbara, "I don't think so. Wait a minute, though, Nur-el-Din's maid must have come in very shortly after for I remember the opened the door when Captain Strangwise came to tell me daddy was waiting to take me home." "Do you remember if Nur-el-Din actually mentioned the package in the presence of the maid!"
Yet he has not got it here!" Heavy footsteps resounded in the room above. Rass cried out something swiftly to the dancer, thrust the pistol into her hands, and dashed up the ladder. The next moment there was a loud report followed by the thud of a heavy body falling. Somewhere in the rooms above a woman screamed. Nur-el-Din's hands flew to her face and the pistol crashed to the ground.
She went swiftly to her mistress and whispered something in her ear. The dancer sprang to her feet. "A little moment... you will excuse me..." she cried to Desmond and ran from the room. The maid followed her, leaving Desmond alone. Presently, the sound of Nur-el-Din's voice raised high in anger struck on his ears. He stole softly to the door and opened it. Before him lay the staircase deserted.
"Forty-eight hours ago I'd never heard of you, then the Chief gave me a telegram to send to your Divisional General summoning you home, after that he told me that we were to work together, and a few hours later I run into you in Nur-el-Din's dressing-room..." She broke off suddenly, her gray eyes big with fear. She darted across the room to an ormolu table on which her handbag was lying.
Nur-el-Din was terrified of Mortimer; for so much she had admitted to Desmond that very afternoon; she was terrified of Strangwise, too, it seemed, of this Strangwise who, like Mortimer, kept appearing at every stage of this bewildering affair. What confession had been on Nur-el-Din's lips when she had broken off that afternoon with the cry: "Already I have said too much!"
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