Gaston smiled. "I knew him before Monseigneur did. I was born on the

estate of Monsieur le Comte de Saint Hubert, the father of Monsieur le

Vicomte. I and my twin brother Henri. We both went into Monsieur's le

Comte's training stables, and then after our time in the Cavalry Henri

became valet to Monsieur le Vicomte, and I came to Monseigneur."

Diana took off her hat and rubbed her forehead thoughtfully. Fifteen

years ago Ahmed must have been about twenty. Why should an Arab chief

of that age, or any age, indulge in such an anomaly as a French valet,

or for that matter why should a French valet attach himself to an Arab

Sheik and exile himself in the wilds of the desert? Whichever way she

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turned, the mystery of the man she loved seemed to crop up. She started

arguing with herself in a circle--why should the Sheik have a European

servant or why should he not, until she gave it up in hopeless

confusion.

She turned to Gaston with the intention of asking further of the coming

visitor, and, keeping The Dancer as still as she could, sat looking at

the valet with great, questioning eyes, fanning her hot face with her

hat. Gaston, whose own horse stood like a rock, was frankly mopping his

forehead. Dianna decided against any more questions. Gaston would

naturally be hopelessly biased, having been born and brought up in the

shadow of the family, and after all she would rather judge for herself.

One inquiry only she permitted herself: "The family of Saint Hubert,

are they of the old or the new noblesse?"

"Of the old, Madame," replied Gaston quickly.

Diana coaxed her nervous mount close beside his steadier companion,

and, thrusting his bridle and her hat into Gaston's hands, slipped to

the ground and walked away a little distance to the top of a small

mound. She sat down on the summit with her back to the horses and her

arms clasped round her knees. All that the coming of this strange man

meant to her rushed suddenly over her. He was a man, obviously, who

moved in the world, her world, since he apparently travelled

extensively and his father was wealthy enough to run a racing stable as

a hobby and was a member of the dwindling class of ancienne

noblesse. It was characteristic of her that she put first what she

did. How could she bear to meet one of her own order in the position in

which she was? She who had been proud Diana Mayo and now--the mistress

of an Arab Sheik?




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