The Turquoise Cup, and, the Desert

This book has two short stories. The Turquoise Cup: The Earl of Vauxhall is in love with Lady Nora, who is very beautiful. She, however, wants a token of his appreciation before she consents to marry him, and asks for the turquoise cup, which is one of the most priceless and beautiful treasures of the Roman Catholic Church. When tries to buy it from the cardinal, he is refused. The only solution, then, is to steal it. The second story is The Desert. Abdullah is a camel driver. He owns his own caravan and is one of the best men in the desert. Just before leaving across the desert, he is approached by a man who asks him to take his daughter across the desert. But there are secrets being kept and there are evil plots brew…