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 "My dearest!" groaned Siddereticus, "I would bear it all a thousand times over, if I could. But," his voice broke, "I am not powerful enough to make it stop hurting."

There was no sound but Fen's painful breathing and the ticking of the doctor's watch.

"The heart action is very weak," the doctor said. "It's a fearful shock to the whole system—no vitality to draw on—nothing left. But," he glanced at his watch, "if he can get along as well as this till somewhere near midnight, the reaction ought to come. He has a good chance."

There seemed an interminable time of silence, and then Fen's lips moved again,

"Sing—to me. Memnon—"

And very softly Siddereticus began to sing the Slumber Song of the Nile. Over and over he crooned it; and as he sang, he