u of
your prisoner. He will be safer in my hands.'

She left me in a condition of pretty blank bewilderment. We were to be
tied to the chariot-wheels of this fury, and started on an enterprise
compared to which fighting against our friends at Kut seemed tame and
reasonable. On the other hand, I had been spotted by Rasta, and had
got the envoy of the most powerful man in Constantinople locked in a
cupboard. At all costs we had to keep Rasta safe, but I was very
determined that he should not be handed over to the lady. I was going
to be no party to cold-blooded murder, which I judged to be her
expedient. It was a pretty kettle of fish, but in the meantime I must
have food, for I had eaten nothing for nine hours. So I went in search
of Peter.

I had scarcely begun my long deferred meal when Sandy entered. He was
before his time, and he looked as solemn as a sick owl. I seized on
him as a drowning man clutches a spar.

He heard my story of Rasta with a lengthening face.

'That's bad,' he said. 'You say he spotted you, and your subsequent
doings of course would not disillusion him. It's an infernal nuisance,
but there's only one way out of it. I must put him in charge of my own
people. They will keep him safe and sound till he's wanted. Only he
mustn't see me.' And he went out in a hurry.

I fetched Rasta from his prison. He had come to his senses by this
time, and lay regarding me with stony, malevolent eyes.

'I'm very sorry, Sir,' I said, 'for what has happened. But you left me
no alternative. I've got a big job on hand and I can't have it
interfered with by you or anyone. You're paying the price of a
suspicious nature. When you know a little more you'll want to
apologize to me. I'm going to see that you are kept quiet and
comfortable for a day or two. You've no cause to worry, for you'll
suffer no harm. I give you my word of honour as an American citizen.'

Two of Sandy's miscreants came in and bore him off, and presently Sandy
himself returned. When I asked him where he was being taken, Sandy
said he didn't know. 'They've got their orders, and they'll carry them
out to the letter. There's a big unknown area in Constantinople to
hide a man, into which the _Khafiyeh_ never enter.'

Then he flung himself in a chair and lit his old pipe.

'Dick,' he said, 'this job is getting very difficult and very dark. But
my knowledge has grown in the last few days. I've found out the
meaning of the