Fatatida came in with a tea tray. "You have slept late Lady Reylari. It is past noon." There were several bouquets of fresh flowers in the room. "These are from friends who wish you well. Here are the cards.

Lady Reylari yawned as she read the cards and drank her tea. How kind and thoughtful people could be. She gave a start, there was a bouquet of pink roses from Mac. He was staying in this very hotel! Mac, from the ship, she did not really think that she would ever see him again. Even Mac seemed to know all about her most recent ordeal.

I guess it all was real and not just another nightmare. There was another card and it was very upsetting. It was from Nesime! A dozen red roses. "Take them out of here." she told Fatatida. Fatatida took the roses from the room. When she returned she sat down, and with a sigh said, "There is much I must tell you.

You must have nothing more to do with Nesime. He is more to you than even a cousin. He is your brother. Please let me finish befor you speak. His mother was a chamber-maid from this very hotel. Women threw themselves at your father, and he had a terribe weakness for them. Nesime is much like him. The mother died of tuberculosis and left the child on his doorstep. The boy was the spitting image of the father, and so much like him there was no doubt of the parentage. He was always told that Neisime was his uncle. He was five years old when your father married your mother. They were blissfuly happy. At first Nesime was jealous of your mother then after your birth he was very jealous of you. On more than one occasion, I myself prevented him from smothering you.

There is more, there is much more. You were the first born ligitimate child of your father, but you had a sister Reylari. Shush! Be quiet you had a twin sister. You were the eldest born befor the stroke of midnight, and she was born after on the next day. The Eyes of Ra were placed upon your cribs. It is a family tradition. I myself placed the mark of Ra upon you to distinguish one from another. Your mother was furious with me for doing so. She never forgave me.

Fatatida's eyes filled with tears, one sad fateful day your sister was snatched from her crib, almost befor our very eyes. I had just given her a bath, and had put her back in her crib. Then I took you. When I returned your sister was gone, and the left hand of Ra with her. It was a great scandal at the time. The kidnapper called, and ransome money was left. All that was ever found of the child were some of her little clothes, floating in the Nile." Fatatida is weeping, and I rush to console her. "Delia was her name. You were named for your paternal grandmother, and she was named for your maternal one."

"Why has no one ever told me this?" I can not containe myself any longer.

"Let me continue the story. Your mother was of course grief striken, and of course your father, and they gaurded you all the more. One day when they were out for a stroll with the perambulator they allowed Nesieme to push it. He pushed it as fast as he could, right into the river Nile. Your father jumped into a river full of crocodiles to save you. You were unharmed, but your mother would have no more of Egypt, and she took you away. Nesime had had his way, after that he was the only one who ever really had your father's affection.

How I wish now I had put the mark on little Delia too. It is all that you have to protect you here."