"Then, Mizraim, thou son of secrecy and keeper of the door, take heed to what I say, and for thine honour and my need do as I will. Thou shalt to-night admit Mustapha Bey to the harem--at the hour of nine o'clock!" "Saadat el basha!" The eunuch's face was sickly in its terrified wonder. "Even so. At nine." "But, saadat--" "Bring him secretly, even to the door of the favourite's room; then, have him seized and carried to a safe place till I send for him." "Ah, saadat el basha--" The lean face of the creature smiled, and the smile was not nice to see. "Let no harm be done him, but await my messenger, Mahommed Yeleb, and whatsoever he bids you to do, do it; for I speak." "Ah, saadat el basha, you would strike Selamlik Pasha so--the great beast, the black river pig, the serpent of the slime....!" "You will do this thing, Mizraim?" "I shall lure him, as the mirage the pilgrim. With joy I will do this, and a hundred times more." "Even if I asked of thee the keys of the harem?" asked Dicky grimly. "Effendi, thou wouldst not ask. All the world knows thee. For thee the harem hath no lure. Thou goest not by dark ways to deeds for thine own self. Thou hast honour. Ismail himself would not fear thee." "See, thou master of many, squeak not thy voice so high. Ismail will take thy head and mine, if he discovers to-night's business. Go then with a soft tread, Mizraim. Let thy hand be quick on his mouth, and beware that no one sees!" III Upon the stroke of midnight Dicky entered the room where Selamlik Pasha awaited him with a malicious and greasy smile, in which wanton cruelty was uppermost. Selamlik Pasha knew well the object of this meeting. He had accurately interpreted the message brought by Mahommed Yeleb. He knew his power; he knew that the Englishman's life was in his hands to do with what he chose, for the law of the harem which defies all outside law was on his side. But here he was come to listen to Dicky Donovan, the arrogant little favourite, pleading for the life of the English boy who had done the thing for which the only penalty was death. Dicky showed no emotion as he entered the room, but salaamed, and said: "Your Excellency is prompt. Honour and peace be upon your Excellency!" "Honour and the bounty of the stars be upon thee, saadat el basha!" There was a slight pause, in which Dicky seated himself, lighted a cigarette, and summoned a servant, of whom he ordered coffee. They did not speak meantime, but Dicky sat calmly, almost drowsily, smoking, and Selamlik Pasha sat with greasy hands clasping and unclasping, his yellow eyes fixed on Dicky with malevolent scrutiny. When the coffee was brought, the door had been shut, and Dicky had drawn the curtain across, Selamlik Pasha said: "What great affair brings us together here, saadat el basha?" "The matter of the Englishman you hold a prisoner, Excellency." "It is painful, but he is dead," said the Pasha, with a grimace of cruelty.