spise me, and keep me in dependence."

In spite of his first announcement of tremendous danger, Asad detained
Iskender by the gate for nearly an hour, talking with him openly in
full sight of the house. His discourse was chiefly of women,
concerning whom he developed ideas purely cynical. He said that the
daughters of the country were the more appetising, but that he himself
would choose a daughter of the English to increase his consequence. If
she possessed wealth or good looks, so much the better; but she must be
English, and of an honourable house. As an English missionary, with an
English wife of good family, how he would lord it here on a stipend of
two hundred pounds a year! Iskender, being deep in thought of
something else, made an excellent listener. Asad presented him with a
small piece of baclaweh.

"At what hour does the Emir take his pleasure in the garden?" Iskender
asked at parting from that child of promise; leaving Asad to suppose he
put the question out of caution, to the end that he himself might shun
the Mission at that hour.

"Between the fourth and fifth after noon," was the reply. "But avoid
the house altogether, if thy life is precious to thee! The foe, I tell
thee, is a seasoned warrior, a drinker of blood from his birth."

From all that Asad had let fall, two facts shone forth: that the Emir
was mad in love with the Sitt Hilda, and that he was oppressed by his
cruel uncle. Iskender mused on these, seeing a chance to help him and
obtain forgiveness.

CHAPTER XXVII

Between the fourth and fifth hour after noon of that same day Iskender
once more approached the house of the missionaries, this time with
extreme precaution, keeping as far as might be hidden in the folds of
the land, and, when obliged of necessity to cross a space of ground
exposed to view, crawling on his belly, with his tarbush, which, being
scarlet, was conspicuous, doffed and rolled up tightly in one hand. It
was important for the enterprise he had in view that no one of the
house should see him coming.

Having reached the garden boundary undiscovered, he stole round it,
crouching, with his ear to the wall. Soon he caught the sound of
voices, and, guided by them, reached a point quite near the speakers
whence he could hear every word they were saying. The Emir had just
concluded what must have been a long petition, and now the uncle spoke:

"Need we have it all over again?" he inquired irritably. "You k