88 The Little Minister

“You must, indeed, dear,” said the Egyptian,
“for you are sadly tired. Good night, sergeant.”

“Your servant, Mrs. Dishart. Your servant,
sir.

“ But —” cried Gavin.

“Come, love,” said the Egyptian, and she
walked the distracted minister through the sol-
diers, and up the manse road.

The soldiers left behind, Gavin flung her arm
from him, and, standing still, shook his fist in her
face.

“You — you— woman !” he said.

This, I think, was the last time he called her a
woman.

But she was clapping her hands merrily.

“Tt was beautiful!” she exclaimed.

“It was iniquitous!” he answered. “AndIla
minister !”’

“You can’t help that,” said the Egyptian, who
pitied all ministers heartily.

“No,” Gavin said, misunderstanding her. “I
could not help it. No blame attaches to me.”

“‘T meant that you could not help being a min-
ister. You could have helped saving me, and I
thank you so much.”

“Do not dare to thank me. I forbid you to
say that I saved you. I did my best to hand you
over to the authorities.”

“Then why did you not hand me over?”

Gavin groaned.

* All you had to say,” continued the merciless
Egyptian, “was, ‘ This is the person you are in
search of.’ I did not have my hand over your

mouth. Why did you not say Leni