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of the man who for twenty years had been my dearest
companion； and the chief interest of my existence。 And
now； perhaps； it was too late！
I wrung my hands； and glanced round。 Ustane was
sitting by the couch； and in her eyes burned the dull
light of despair。 Job was blubberingI am sorry I
cannot name his distress by any more delicate word
audibly in the corner。 Seeing my eye fixed upon him he
went outside to give way to his grief in the passage。
Obviously the only hope lay in Ayesha。 _i_ She _i_ ；
and she aloneunless； indeed； she was an impostor；
which I could not believecould save him。 I would go
and implore her to come。 As I stared to do so；
however； Job came flying into the room； his hair
literally standing on end with terror。
〃Oh； God help us； sir！〃 he ejaculated； in a frightened
whisper； 〃here's a corpse a…coming sliding down the
passage！〃
For a moment I was puzzled； but presently； of course；
it struck me that he must have seen Ayesha； wrapped in
her grave like garment； and been deceived by the
extraordinary undulating smoothness of her walk into a
belief that she was a white ghost gliding towards him。
Indeed； at that very moment the question was settled；
for Ayesha herself was in the apartment； or rather
cave。 Job turned； and saw her sheeted form； and then；
with a convulsive howl of 〃Here it comes！〃 sprang into
a corner； and jammed his face against the wall； and
Ustane； guessing whose the dread presence must be；
prostrated herself upon her face。
〃Thou comest in a good time； Ayesha；〃 I said； 〃for my
boy lies at the point of death。〃
〃So；〃 she said； softly； 〃provided he be not dead； it
is no matter； for I can bring him back to life； my
Holly。 Is that man there thy servant； and is that the
method wherewith thy servants greet strangers in thy
country？〃
〃He is frightened of thy garbit hath a deathlike
air；〃 I answered。 _i_ She _i_ laughed。
〃And the girl？ Ah； I see now。 It is her of whom thou
didst speak to me。 Well； bid them both to leave us；
and we will see to this sick Lion of thine。 I love not
that underlings should perceive my wisdom。〃
Thereon I told Ustane in Arabic and Job in English
both to leave the room； an order which the latter
obeyed readily enough； and was glad to obey； for he
could not in any way subdue his fear。 But it was
otherwise with Ustane。
〃What does _i_ She _i_ want？〃 she whispered； divided
between her fear of the terrible queen and her anxiety
to remain near Leo。 〃It is surely the right of a wife
to be near her husband when he dieth。 Nay； I will not
go； my lord； the Baboon。〃
〃Why doth not that woman leave us； my Holly？〃 asked
Ayesha； from the other end of the cave； where she was
engaged in carelessly examining some of the sculptures
on the wall。
〃 _i_ She _i_ is not willing to leave Leo；〃 I
answered； not knowing what to say。 Ayesha wheeled
round； and； pointing to the girl Ustane； said one
word； and one only； but it was quite enough； for the
tone in which it was said meant volumes。
〃Go！〃
And then Ustane crept past her on her hands and knees；
and went。
〃Thou seest； my Holly；〃 said Ayesha； with a little
laugh； 〃it was needful that I should give these people
a lesson in obedience。 That girl went nigh to
disobeying me； but then she did not learn this morn
how I treat the disobedient。 Well； she has gone； and
now let me see the youth；〃 and she glided towards the
couch on which Leo lay； with his face h the shadow and
turned towards the wall。
〃He hath a noble shape；〃 she said； as she bent over
him to look upon his face。
Next second her tall and willowy form was staggering
back across the room； as though she had been shot or
stabbed； staggering back till at last she struck the
cavern wall and then there burst from her lips the
most awful and unearthly scream that I ever heard in
all my life。
〃What is it； Ayesha？〃 I cried。 〃Is he dead？〃
_i_ She _i_ turned； and sprang towards me like a
tigress。 〃Thou dog！〃 she said； in her terrible
whisper； which sounded like the hiss of a snake； 〃why
didst thou hide this from me？〃 And she stretched out
her arm； and I thought that she was about to slay me。
〃What？〃 I ejaculated； in the most lively terror；
〃what？〃
〃Ah！〃 she said； 〃perchance thou didst not know。 Learn；
my Holly； learn： there liesthere lies my lost
Kallikrates。 Kallikrates； who has come back to me at
last； as I knew he would； as I knew he would；〃 and she
began to sob and to laugh； and generally to conduct
herself like any other lady who is a little upset；
murmuring 〃Kallikrates； Kallikrates！〃
〃Nonsense；〃 thought I to myself； but I did not like to
say it； and； indeed； at that moment I was thinking of
Leo's life； having forgotten everything else in that
terrible anxiety。 What I feared now was that he should
die while she was 〃carrying on。〃
〃Unless thou art able to help him； Ayesha；〃 I put in；
by way of a reminder； 〃thy Kallikrates will soon be
far beyond thy calling。 Surely he dieth even now。〃
〃True；〃 she said； with a start。 〃Oh； why did I not
come before！ I am unnervedmy hand trembles； even
mineand yet it is very easy。 Here； thou Holly； take
this phial；〃 and she produced a tiny jar of pottery
from the folds of her garment； 〃and pour the liquid in
it down his throat。 It will cure him if he be not
dead。 Swift； now！ Swift！ The man dies！〃
I glanced towards him； it was true enough； Leo was in
his death…struggle。 I saw his poor face turning ashen；
and heard the breath begin to rattle in his throat。
The phial was stoppered with a little piece of wood。 I
drew it with my teeth； and a drop of the fluid within
flew out upon my tongue。 It had a sweet flavor； and
for a second made my head swim； and a mist gather
before my eyes； but happily the effect passed away as
swiftly as it had arisen。
When I reached Leo's side he was plainly expiringhis
golden head was slowly turning from side to side； and
his mouth was slightly open。 I called to Ayesha to
hold his head； and this she managed to do； though the
woman was quivering from head to foot； like an aspen…
leaf or a startled horse。 Then； forcing the jaw a
little more open； I poured the contents of the phial
into his mouth。 Instantly a little vapor arose from
it； as happens when one disturbs nitric acid； and this
sight did not increase my hopes； already faint enough；
of the efficacy of the treatment。
One thing； however； was certain； the death…throes
ceasedat first I thought because he had got beyond
them； and crossed the awful river。 His face turned to
a livid pallor； and his heart…beats； which had been
feeble enough before； seemed to die away altogether
only the eyelid still twitched a little。 In my doubt I
looked up at Ayesha； whose head wrapping had slipped
back in her excitement when she went reeling across
the room。 _i_ She _i_ was still holding Leo's head；
and； with a face as pale as his own； watching his
countenance with such an expression of agonized
anxiety as I have never seen before。 Clearly she did
not know if he would live or die。 Five minutes slowly
passed； and I saw that sh