“Of course I was a chump to care for her.” “Oh, I don’t know.” “Yes, I was. I’m a plain sort of chap, although I’m not half as wild and woolly as I pretend to be.” “You don’t have to tell me that, old man. I’ve been able to see under the surface all along. I think I understand you.” “You do, Dick, and you’re the only one. That’s why I swear by you. That’s why I’m ready to back you up in anything you do. There is a bond of sympathy between us.” The Texan had dropped his swagger and his Western style of speech. For the time being his mannerisms fell from him like a discarded garment. “Go ahead and tell me what it was that Budthorne said.” “Why, he let it slip that both he and Nadia were greatly interested in this fine Turkish gentleman and that he encouraged her interest in him. In short, she carried on a mild flirtation with Hafsa Pasha, who rather dazzled her. Of course, I have no claim on her, and I’m too young to think of such a thing seriously. But she’s seventeen, and lots of girls get married at that age. In this country they marry at ten and eleven.” “Great Scott! You don’t fancy she actually seriously considered marrying the Turk?” “Why, he’s a very cultured gentleman. Budthorne said so. He is educated, and he has traveled extensively. Besides that, he is in the very prime of life. Such a man might dazzle the eyes of a young girl. There would be something romantic in a flirtation with him. She would be likely to dream of the splendor and power that would come to her as the wife of such a man. Don’t call me a fool, Dick! I know! I know!” “If you’re not foolish, then you are crazy!” “Only jealous, Dick. I confess it—I’m jealous! Never felt this way before. I have an awful feeling down here inside of me. I’d like to kill somebody!” “But she threw Hafsa Pasha down, old man.” “After Budthorne was told by the captain of the ship that Hafsa Pasha had a harem in Damascus.” Merriwell gave a great start. “Is that true?” he demanded. “Budthorne confessed it.” “Budthorne’s a fool!” “Oh, we both knew all the time that he was weak. I think he encouraged Nadia in her flirtation with the Turk until he obtained that information from the captain. Then he got his eyes open and forbade her to have anything to do with the man.” “Nadia is young, Brad. Her ideas are not formed yet. You mustn’t be too hard on her. Even if she did flirt with the Turk a little, perhaps she was never serious.”