can, stay in Jerusalem. Quite simple."

That had the merit of frankness. It sounded fair enough.
Nevertheless, he was certainly not being perfectly frank. The
merriment in his eyes meant something more than mere amusement.
It occurred to me that his frankness took the extreme form of not
concealing that he had something important in reserve. I rather
liked him for it. His attitude seemed to be that if I wanted to
take a chance, I might on my own responsibility, but that if my
doing so should happen to suit his plans, that was his affair.
Grim was still watching me the way a cat watches a mouse.

"I'll sign such a letter," said I.

"Good. Here are pen and paper. Let's have it all in your
handwriting. I'll call a clerk to witness the signature."

I wrote down the simple statement that I wished to go to El-Kerak
for personal reasons, and that I waived all claim against the
British Administration for personal protection, whether there or
en route. A clerk, who looked as if he could not have been hired
to know, or understand, or remember anything without permission,
came in answer to the bell. I signed. He witnessed.

Sir Louis put the letter in a drawer, and the clerk went
out again.

"How soon will you go?"

I told about the promised escort, and that a day or two would be
needed to get word to ben Nasir. I forgot that ben Nasir would
not start before moonrise. It appeared that Sir Louis knew more
than he cared to admit.

"Can't we get word to ben Nasir for him, Grim?"

Grim nodded. So did Sir Louis:

"Good. There'll be no need, then, for you to take any one into
confidence," he said, turning to me again. "As a rule it isn't
well to talk about these things, because people get wrong ideas.
There are others in Jerusalem who would like permission to go
to El-Kerak."

"I'll tell nobody."

He nodded again. He was still considering things in the back
of his mind, while those intelligent, bright eyes smiled so
disarmingly.

"How do you propose to reach the Dead Sea?" he asked. "Ben
Nasir's escort will probably meet you on the shore on this side."

"Oh, hire some sort of conveyance, I suppose."

"Couldn't we lend him one of our cars, Grim?"

Grim nodded again.

"We'll do that. Grim, can you get word to ben Nasir so that when
the escort is ready he may send a messenger straight to the hotel
with the information? D'you get my meaning?"

"Sure," said Grim, "nobody else need know then."