He leaned back against the wall of the hut, crossing his long limbs negligently over the soft fur of the robe beneath, drawing from his pocket a small mirror.

“Ay, I mentioned it; but la reine Naladi appeared not overly well pleased with the suggestion, so I concluded not to press the matter unduly.  One never gains by being ungallant at such a time.  Besides, there is no doubt Eloise is well attended; the Queen referred to her most kindly.”

“The preacher told me,” I broke forth indignantly, determined to test him to the full, “that this same sweet Naladi compelled her savage minions to drag Madame harshly forth from the altar-house, despite her pleadings.  Perchance this tender-spoken Queen has little of the angel beneath her fairness of skin.”

“Sacre!  I hope not.  I opine an angel would prove wearisome to company with for long.  My own taste inclines toward flesh and blood.  You say Master Cairnes told you this sad tale?”

“Ay, adding that the pitiful Naladi only laughed at the sobs of Madame.”

“Pish! between the two, her word has most weight with me.  No doubt ’twas a vision born of his own temper.  The Queen assured me most graciously of the welfare and contentment of Eloise.  It would have been boorish to question her further.  Besides, she took my thought from other things, repeating to me the strange tale of these savages, although the black made poor enough work with her words.”

It was abundantly evident the man was fairly crazed with conceit, already well entangled in the web of this designing creature.  For the hour, at least, all serious consideration of her who should rightfully claim his attention had been completely blotted out.  He had become a willing victim to a will infinitely stronger than his own, his conscience deadened by the poison of beauty; so, while my blood rioted in protest to his simpering French vanity, I could perceive no means by which I might arouse him to more manly action.  To cross such a man only invites to the surface the worst elements of his nature; besides, were I to stir him by strong protest, it might be doubtful if he comprehended the nature of my scruples in the matter.  Any such misunderstanding would result in the exchange of hard words, and in my making an enemy where now I possessed a friend.  Not that the Chevalier was a particularly valuable ally, yet he wielded a good sword upon occasion, and would prove more useful in friendship than in enmity.  I might despise him, yet he remained the husband of Madame, and I durst pick no quarrel with him.  To do so would raise a barrier between us, rendering our situation among the savages darker than ever.  As to the moral side of the affair, it would be sheer waste of words to broach it, as De Noyan could form no clearer conception of such an issue than a babe unborn.  He swung as the wind blew, and in all his pampered life had probably never dreamed of denying himself a liberty.  Saint Andrew! it was a knotty problem for such a head as mine to solve.  I believe I chose the better course in assuming the role of a neutral, as I sat staring at the fellow while he twisted his moustaches into their old-time curl, gazing at himself in the pocket mirror, utterly oblivious of my presence.