The Sheik

The noisy clamour of excited voices guided her to the scene of the

accident, and the surrounding crowd opened to let her pass through. The

wounded man was sitting holding up his hand stoically for Saint

Hubert's ministrations with a look of mild interest on his face. In

response to Diana's smile and cheery word he grinned sheepishly with a

roll of his fine eyes. Saint Hubert looked up quickly. "It is not a

pleasant sight," he said doubtfully.

"I don't mind. Let me hold that," she said quietly, rolling up her

sleeves and taking a crimson-spattered basin from Henri. Saint Hubert

flashed another look at her, marvelling at her steady voice and even

colour when he thought of the white-faced girl who had clung trembling

to him ten minutes earlier. Outside of Ahmed Ben Hassan she still

retained the fearless courage that she had always had; it was only when

anything touched him nearly that the new Diana, with the coward anxiety

of love, rose paramount.

She watched the Vicomte's skilful treatment of the maimed hand with

interest. There was a precision in his movement and a deft touch that

indicated both knowledge and practise. "You are a doctor?"

"Yes," he said, without looking up from his work, "I studied when I was

a young man and passed all the necessary examinations. It is

indispensable when one travels as I do. I have found it invaluable."

He took up some dressing that Henri held ready for him, and Diana

handed the now unwanted bowl to Gaston. She looked again at the Arab,

whose impassive face showed no sign of any feeling. "Does he feel it

very much, do you think?" she asked the valet.

He laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "Less than I should, Madame.

What is really troubling him is the thought of what Monseigneur will

say when he hears that Selim was fool enough to buy a worthless gun

from one of the servants of the Dutchman who passed here last week,"

and he added a few teasing words in Arabic which made Selim look up

with a grimace.

Saint Hubert finished adjusting the bandages and stood up, wiping the

perspiration from his forehead.

"Will he do all right now?" asked Diana anxiously.

"I think so. The thumb is gone, as you saw, but I think I can save the

rest of the hand. I will watch him carefully, but these men of Ahmed's

are in such excellent condition that I do not think there will be any

trouble."