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stood under the open windows listening。 A cold shudder ran down his back；
his face grew pale； and his lips trembled； for he heard two men discussing
the murder and the capture of his friends。 An involuntary smile lighted up
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the gloom of his features for a moment as one remarked that the chief
offender； the woman's husband； had eluded pursuit。 Then he crept back
into the desert and waited for the dawn。
The sun rose； fiery and relentless； glittering on the waters of Aboukir；
and the cloudless heaven blazed like a prairie on fire。 At midday； when its
rays fell straight upon him； his thirst became intense； and with feverish
fingers he dug up an egg。 It was empty。 He tossed it away and dragged
himself to another hole。 The second egg was empty。 In turn he dug up all
his eggs； and all alike were empty。 Improperly sealed； scantily covered by
the sand； the water had evaporated。 A great despair seized him； he called
on God in his anguish； and the silence of the desert terrified him。 In a fit of
desolate anger he pulled off his cap； and summoned all the saints； Christ；
and God Himself； to enter it； and then trampled on it； laughing wildly。
Then he flung himself upon the sand； his head still left bare to the pitiless
sun。 He knew the end had come； but there was not any regret in his heart
for his crimes； only an impotent dismay and anger at his solitary condition。
The thirst increased every minute； and he gripped the sand with his fingers
in his agony。 His last word was an oath。
At sunset he was dead。
Two days later Madam Marx left Alexandria by train for Ramleh。
There was no evidence against her； and she had soon been released。 Her
own trouble scarcely disconcerted her； she had feared only for the Greek
in the desert。 The thought of his agony； his hunger； goaded her nearly to
madness； but she was a little comforted when she remembered the eggs。
There was enough water in them to last him two or three days。 It was the
hour of sunset when she arrived； and she instantly set out desertward；
carrying a basket containing wine and food。 She had determined to live at
the hotel until the days of persecution were past。 The heavy sand made it
hard to proceed rapidly； but she struggled on bravely； and when far enough
from civilisation called aloud the signal…word agreed on。 But no one
answered。 All through the night she wandered； searching； till within an
hour of sunrise； then she gave way and sat weeping on the sand。 With
daylight she rose to her feet； determined to find her lover； but had scarcely
gone twenty yards before； with a low cry of grief； she knelt beside the
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body of a dead man。 In the half…eaten； decayed features she recognised
Gregorio and knew she had come too late。 Undeterred by the hideous
spectacle； she kissed him tenderly and lay beside him。
The sun mounted slowly in the heavens。
The living figure lay as lifeless as the dead。 But after a while the
woman rose and dug with her hands a hollow in the sand。 She heeded not
the heat； nor the flight of time； and by evening her work was done。
Raising the body in her arms； she carried it to the hollow and laid it
gently down； then tearfully shovelled back the sand till it was hidden。 So
Gregorio found a tomb。 Nor did it remain unconsecrated； for beside it
Madam Marx knelt and spoke with faltering lips the remnants of the
prayers she had learned when a child。 As she prayed she watched vaguely
a steamer disappear behind the horizon。
The khedival mail…boat /Ramses/ sped swiftly over the unruffled
surface of the sea。 At the stern a tall fair Englishman sat looking on the
level shores of Egypt and the minarets of Alexandria。 With a sad smile he
turned to the child who called to him by his name。 They were a strange
pair； for the boy was dark； and foreign…looking； and there was something
of cunning in his restless black eyes。 The man's large hand rested softly on
the raven curls of the youngster as he muttered to himself：
〃For her sake I will watch over you； and you shall grow up to be a true
man。〃
So Xantippe's life had not been lived in vain； for she had loved and
been loved； and her memory was sweet to her lover。 Moreover； Gregorio's
dreams of wealth for his son were to find fulfilment； and the sand of the
desert； maybe； lies lightly on him。
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