a
madman do that on the Hebron Road and get feared, if not
respected for it. There seems to be a theory prevalent in that
part of the world that the sputum of a madman is contagious.

But I overdid it. Most amateurs do overdo things.

They got so afraid that they decided to put me out into the
street at all costs, where those enemies of society, the police,
might demonstrate their ingenuity. Yussuf made a dash for the
front door, and I suppose he would have called in help and ended
my share in the adventure, if something had not happened.

The "something" was Noureddin Ali very much something in his
own opinion.

"Why didn't you open the door sooner?" he demanded. "I have been
knocking for two minutes."

He watched Yussuf lock the door again behind him, and then eyed
the disheveled room with amused curiosity. He was a rat-faced
little man dressed in a black silk jacket, worsted pants and
brown boots, with the inevitable tarboosh set at an angle of
sheer impudence--a man at least fifty years old by the look of
him, but full of that peppery vigor that so often clings to
little men in middle life. On the whole he looked more like a
school-teacher, or a lawyer then a conspirator; but Yussuf
addressed him with great deference as "Noureddin Ali Bey," and
even old alligator-eyes became obsequious.

Both Yussuf and the other man began explaining the situation to
him in rapid-fire Arabic. I, meanwhile, recovering from the fit
as fast as I dared and trying to remember how to do it.
Noureddin Ali was plainly for having me thrown out, until they
mentioned the name of Staff-Captain Ali Mirza; at that he tried
to cross-examine Suliman at great length, but could get nothing
out of him. Suliman had evidently overheard Grim talking about
Noureddin Ali, and was very much afraid of him.

"All right," Noureddin Ali said at last. "No more business
today, Yussuf. Keep the door locked, but admit the captain. We
must find out what this message is about."

Yussuf went to tidying up the place, while Noureddin Ali and the
alligator person talked excitedly in low tones in the corner near
the scullery door. I lay on the floor with one eye open,
expecting Grim every minute; but it must have been four in the
afternoon before he came, and all that while, with only short
intervals for food and coffee, Noureddin Ali and the other man
talked steadily, discussing over and over again the details of
some plan.

Shortly after mi