m, who has held over our heads the
rod?"

Kaid looked at him meditatively, and gave no answer to the question. "He
reached too far," he muttered. "Egypt has one master only."

The door opened softly and the black slave stole in. His lips moved, but
scarce a sound travelled across the room. Kaid understood, and made a
gesture. An instant afterwards the vast figure of Higli Pasha bulked
into the room. Again there were elaborate salutations and salaams, and
Kaid presently said:

"Foorgat?"

"Effendina," answered High, "it is not known how he died. He was in this
Palace alive at night. In the morning he was found in bed at his own
home."

"There was no wound?"

"None, Effendina."

"The thong?"

"There was no mark, Effendina."

"Poison?"

"There was no sign, Effendina."

"Diamond-dust?"

"Impossible, Effendina. There was not time. He was alive and well here
at the Palace at eleven, and--" Kaid made an impatient gesture. "By the
stone in the Kaabah, but it is not reasonable that Foorgat should die in
his bed like a babe and sleep himself into heaven! Fate meant him for
a violent end; but ere that came there was work to do for me. He had
a gift for scenting treason--and he had treasure." His eyes shut and
opened again with a look not pleasant to see. "But since it was that he
must die so soon, then the loan he promised must now be a gift from the
dead, if he be dead, if he be not shamming. Foorgat was a dire jester."

"But now it is no jest, Effendina. He is in his grave."

"In his grave! Bismillah! In his grave, dost thou say?"

High's voice quavered. "Yesterday before sunset, Effendina. By Nahoum's
orders."

"I ordered the burial for to-day. By the gates of hell, but who shall
disobey me!"

"He was already buried when the Effendina's orders came," High pleaded
anxiously.

"Nahoum should have been taken yesterday," he rejoined, with malice in
his eyes.

"If I had received the orders of the Effendina on the night when the
Effendina dismissed Nahoum--" Achmet said softly, and broke off.

"A curse upon thine eyes that did not see thy duty!" Kaid replied
gloomily. Then he turned to High. "My seal has been put upon Foorgat's
doors? His treasure-places have been found? The courts have been
commanded as to his estate, the banks--"

"It was too late, Effendina," replied High hopelessly. Kaid got to his
feet slowly, rage possessing him. "Too late! Who makes it too late when
I command?"

"When Foorgat w