Dicky's eyes twitched slightly, but he answered with coolness, thrusting his elbow into the cushions and smoking hard: "But, no, he is not dead. Selamlik Pasha has as great an instinct for a bargain as for revenge. Also Selamlik Pasha would torture before he kills. Is it not so?" "What is your wish?" "That the man be set free, Excellency." "He has trespassed. He has stolen his way into the harem. The infidel dog has defiled the house of my wives." "He will marry the woman, with your permission, Excellency. He loved her--so it would seem." "He shall die--the dog of an infidel!" Dicky was now satisfied that Sowerby was alive, and that the game was fairly begun. He moved slowly towards his purpose. "I ask his life, as a favour to me. The Khedive honours me, and I can serve you betimes, Excellency." "You called me 'Trousers,' and all Egypt laughed," answered the Pasha malignantly. "I might have called you worse, but I did not. You may call me what you will--I will laugh." "I will call you a fool for bringing me here to laugh at you, who now would kiss Selamlik Pasha's shoe. I would he were your brother. I would tear out his fingernails, pierce his eyes, burn him with hot irons, pour boiling oil over him and red cinders down his throat--if he were your brother." "Remember I am in the confidence of the Khedive, Pasha." "Ismail! What dare he do? Every Egyptian in the land would call him infidel. Ismail would dare do nothing." His voice was angrily guttural with triumph. "England will ask the price of the young man's life of you, Excellency." "England dare not move--is thy servant a fool? Every Mussulman in the land would raise the green flag--the Jehad would be upon ye!" "He is so young. He meant no ill. The face of your daughter drew him on. He did not realise his crimen--or its penalty." "It is a fool's reasoning. Because he was a stranger and an infidel, so has he been told of dark things done to those who desecrate our faith." "Had he been an Egyptian or a Turk--" "I should slay him, were he Ismail himself. Mine own is mine own, as Mahomet hath said. The man shall die--and who shall save him? Not even the Sultan himself." "There are concessions in the Fayoum--you have sought them long." "Bah!" "There is the Grand Cordon of the Mejidieh; there is a way to it, Excellency." "The man's blood!" "There is a high office to be vacant soon, near to the person of the Khedive, with divers moneys and loans--" "To see Donovan Pasha cringe and beg is better." "There is that mercy which one day you may have to ask for yourself or for your own--" "The fool shall die. And who shall save him?" "Well, I will save him," said Dicky, rising slowly to his feet.