It was now for Slatin to keep a hold on himself, for Macnamara’s reply was unexpected. Ruling his face to composure, however, he turned to the Khalifa and said that up to this moment Macnamara had not been willing to become a Mahommedan, but his veneration for the Mahdi’s successor was so great that he would embrace the true faith by the mercy of God and the permission of the Khalifa. When the Khalifa replied that he would accept the convert into the true faith at once, Slatin then said to Macnamara: “Come now, my man, I’ve promised that you will become a Mahommedan--it’s your best chance of safety.” “I’ll see him on the devil’s pitchfork first,” said Macnamara; but he did not change countenance. “I’m a Protestant and I’ll stand be me baptism.” “You’ll lose your head, man,” answered Slatin. “Don’t be a fool.” “I’m keepin’ to what me godfathers and godmothers swore for me,” answered Macnamara stubbornly. “You must pretend for a while, or you’ll be dead in an hour--and myself too.” “You--that’s a different nose on me face,” answered Macnamara. “But suppose I buck when I get into the mosque--no, begobs, I’ll not be doin’ it!” “I’ll say to him that you’ll do it with tears of joy, if you can have a month for preparation.” “Make it two an’ I’m your man, seein’ as you’ve lied for me, sir. But on wan condition--where does he keep his coin?” “If you try that on, you’ll die bit by bit like the men in the Beit-el-Mal to-day,” answered Slatin quickly. “I’m carvin’ me own mutton, thank ye kindly, sir,” answered Macnamara. “I’ve heard that part of his treasure is under his own room,” went on Slatin quickly, for he saw that the Khalifa’s eyes had a sinister look-the conversation had been too long. “Speak no more!” said Abdullah sharply. “What is it you say, my son?” he added to Slatin. “He has been telling me that he is without education even in his own faith, and that he cannot learn things quickly. Also he does not understand what to do in the mosque, or how to pray, and needs to be taught. He then asked what was impossible, and I had to argue with him, sire.” “What did he ask?” asked the Khalifa, his fierce gaze on Macnamara. “He wished to be taught by yourself, sire. He said that if you taught him he would understand. I said that you were the chosen Emperor of the Faithful, the coming king of the world, but he replied that the prophets of old taught their disciples with their own tongues.” It was a bold lie, but the Khalifa was flattered, and made a motion of assent. Slatin, seeing his advantage, added: “I told him that you could not spare the time to teach him, sire; but he said that if you would talk to him for a little while every day for a month, after he had studied Arabic for two months, he would be ready to follow your majesty through life and death.”