you will remain
in El-Kerak until after the--er--raid. The notables will
understand from me that your mouth is sealed until after the
event. You shall be let into our secrets. There--is that
not equitable?"

It was shrewd. I did not believe for a minute that he would let
me into all their secrets, but he could not have imagined a
greater temptation for me. Since I would not have taken his word
that black was not white, I did not hesitate to pretend to agree
to his terms.

"I must have an interpreter," I said. "Otherwise I shall
understand very little."

"I will supply you an interpreter--a good one."

"No, thank you. Any man of yours might only tell me what he
thought correct for me to hear. If I'm to get a price for my
services, I want the full price. I want to hear everything. I
must be allowed to bring my own interpreter."

"Who would he be?"

"I don't know yet."

"That man Ahmed, for instance? I have been told he is one of
your party. Ahmed would do very well."

"No, not Ahmed."

"Who then?"

"I will find a man."

He hesitated. If ever a man was reviewing all the possible
contingencies, murder of me included, behind a mask of superficial
courtesy, that man was he.

"He should be a man acceptable to the notables," he said at last.
"I ought to know his name in advance."

"I must have unfettered choice, or I won't attend the
mejlis." [Council]

"Oh, very well. Only the interpreter, too, will have to remain
afterward in El-Kerak."

I looked at that curtain again, for it was moving in a way that
no draft from the open window could account for. But at last the
movement was explained. Before Abdul Ali could speak again a man
stepped out from behind it, crossed the room, and went out
through the door, closing it silently behind him. He was a man I
knew, and the last man I had expected to see in that place. I
suppose Abdul Ali noticed my look of surprise.

"You know him?" he asked.

"By sight. He was at Sheikh ben Nazir's house yesterday."

"That is Suliman ben Saoud, a stranger from Arabia, but a man
of great influence because of his connection with the Ichwan
movement. If you are interested in our types that man will
repay study."

"Good. I'll try to study him," said I.

It was all I could do to keep a straight face. So Jimgrim was
the source of Abdul Ali's inspirations! I wondered what subtle
argument he could have used to make the sheikh so keen on baiting
his hook