hrust home where he kept his susceptibilities.
He blinked, peered this and that way, exchanged glances with the
alligator person, and then tucked his legs up under him.

"In me you see a doer!" he announced. He looked the part. His
lean, pointed nose and beady little eyes were of the interfering,
meddling type. You could not imagine him, like the yellow-eyed
ruminant next to him, sitting and waiting ruthlessly for things
to happen. Noureddin Ali looked more likely to go out and
be ruthless.

"So they all say!" Grim retorted.

"Some one should forewarn them in Damascus what a deed will occur
here presently. Above all, word should reach Mustapha Kemal, in
Anatolia, as soon as possible, so that he may be ready to act."

"All day long," said Grim, "I have wandered about Jerusalem,
listening to this and that rumour of something that may happen.
But I have not found one man who can tell me a fact."

"That is because you did not meet me. I am--hee-hee! I am the
father of facts. You say you leave for Damascus at dawn? You
are positive? I could tell you facts that would put a sudden end
to my career if they were spread about Jerusalem!"

"That is the usual boast of men who desire credit in the eyes of
the Nationalist Party," Grim retorted.

"I see you are skeptical. That is a wise man's attitude, but I
must be cautious, for my life is at stake. Now--how do you
propose to leave Jerusalem? There is no train for Damascus at
dawn tomorrow."

"I am on a diplomatic mission," answered Grim. "The
Administration have placed a car at my disposal to take me as far
as the border."

"Ah! And tonight? Where will you be tonight?"

"Why?"

"Because I propose to make a disclosure. And--ah--hee-hee!--you
would like to live, I take it, and not be sent back to Damascus
in a coffin? I have--ah--some assistants who--hee-hee!--would
watch your movements. If you were to betray me afterwards to the
Administration, there would remain at least--the satisfaction--
of--you understand me?--the certainty that you would suffer
for it!"

Grim laughed dryly.

"I shall be at the hotel," he answered. "In bed. Asleep. The
car comes before dawn."

"That is sufficient. I shall know how to take essential
precautions. Now--you think I am a man of words, not deeds? You
were near the Jaffa Gate this morning, for I saw you there. You
saw a man killed--a policeman, name Bedreddin. That was an
unwise underling, who stumbled b