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 and, with the last of these friendly caresses, let her white hand linger pleasantly in its descent of his brown coat sleeve. Then she took his arm cosily again; they plunged into the dark lane beneath the parapet; and the cheerful murmur of their voices rose to that slight but frigid altitude as they went on in the direction of the entrance of the hotel. The Ouled Nail, more interested than ever, half rose to stare after them.

The fatal Shuler's cackle grew louder. "There! What did I tell you, Mrs. Tinker? Didn't I"

Mrs. Tinker, without a word, turned from the parapet and strode toward the stairway that descended into the hotel.

Shuler called after her: "Now, remember, Mrs. Tinker; we want to make this a good one. Don't say a word to him till after dinner. As soon as we come out to the hotel parlour we'll"

Ogle heard the whisper, hoarse and fierce, of Mrs. Shuler: "Hush up! Haven't you got any sense?"

"Why, what"

"Hush up!"

Then they disappeared in the darkness.

Olivia had turned to follow her mother; but Ogle detained her. "Just a moment."