ra is a lovelier sight, and more inspiring; but perhaps that
is because the Taj is farther away from the folk who like to have
opinions at second-hand. Age, history, situation, setting,
sanctity--the Dome of the Rock has the advantage of all those,
and the purple sky, crowded with coloured stars beyond it is more
wonderful over Jerusalem, because of the clearness of the
mountain air.

In that minute, and for the first time, I hated the men
who could plot to blow up that place. Hitherto I had been
merely interested.

Because it was long after the hour when non-Moslem visitors are
allowed to go about the place with guides, we were submitted to
rather careful scrutiny by men who came out of the shadows and
said nothing, but peered into our faces. They did not speak to
let us by, but signified admittance by turning uninterested backs
and retiring to some dark corners to resume the vigil. I thought
that the Sikh sentry, who stood with bayonet fixed outside the
arch, looked at Grim with something more than curiosity, but no
sign that I could detect passed between them.

The great white moonlit courtyard was empty. Not a soul stirred
in it. Not a shadow moved. Because of the hour there were not
even any guides lurking around the mosque. The only shape that
came to life as we approached the main entrance of the mosque was
the man who takes care of the slippers for a small fee.

Grim, since he was in military dress, allowed the attendant to
tie on over his shoes the great straw slippers they keep there
for that purpose. Suliman had nothing on his feet. I kicked off
the red Damascus slippers I was wearing, and we entered the
octagonal building by passing under a curtain at the rear of the
deep, vaulted entrance.

Nobody took any notice of us at first. It was difficult to see,
for one thing; the light of the lamps that hung on chains from
the arches overhead was dimmed by coloured lenses and did little
more than beautify the gloom. But in the dimness in the midst
you could see the rock of Abraham, surrounded by a railing to
preserve it from profane feet. Little by little the shadows took
shape of men praying, or sleeping, or conversing in low tones.

The place was not crowded. There were perhaps a hundred men in
there, some of whom doubtless intended to spend the night. All
of them, though they gave us a cursory glance, seemed disposed to
mind their own business. It looked for a minute as if we were
goi