“A most intelligent youth,” said Sir Mark. “It appears that he rode straight into the village of Salaam son of Absalaam with an urgent demand for assistance from the sheikh of Ain Afroo. He was leading a party of Moors in that direction when unluckily a genuine messenger from the sheikh arrived. Abdul wheeled about and galloped for the shore, with the rest at his heels, as you saw.” “Shust in time,” said Schwab. “Vun moment after, and I am no more.” “I haven’t heard your story yet, sir,” said Tom to the envoy. “Story, bless you, I have none to tell. I was on my way to Marrakesh, where the Sultan was at the time, and was indiscreet enough one evening to leave my camp for a stroll with only one attendant. I was snapped up, enveloped in a djellab, and conveyed on horseback—to my great discomfort—to the sheikh’s kasbah. There I had the good fortune to meet Mr. Schwab, whose conversation, together with a Schlagintwert price list and a copy of the _Daily Mail_, helped to lighten the tedium of my captivity.” “I zank you, Sir Ingleton,” said Schwab. “Alvays do I vish to be useful. _Utile et dulce._ You vill not forget vat I say about extra-special discount to ze nobility and gentry? And I hear viz surprise, sir,” he added to Oliphant, “zat you are son of a lord. Viz gompliments!” He handed Oliphant a card from his case. “Much obliged,” said Oliphant, kicking Tom under the table. “How did they get hold of _you_?” “Vy, I tell you. I come to Rabat to buy great lot of carpets for Schlagintwert. Zere I hear zat ze Sultan is at Marrakesh, and I zink I shall visit him. I egzpect big order for alarm clocks and bianola. Zat vill be good business. Ach! vat know ze Mohrs of business? Zey seize me; zey care nozink ven I say I am Jarman sobjeck; zey understand nozink ven I speak of our Kaiser who is in Berlin; and so am I shut opp. I smoke all my tobacco; zere is no more. I read ze _Daily Mail_, and zink ven I gontemblate ze advertisement vat colossal business is literature in England. I read Schlagintwert’s price list, and make notes for new edition; alas! zat muss all be done again. Zen I do nozink but zink profound, until Sir Ingleton come and ve study ze list togezer.” “An experience I shall always cherish, believe me, Mr. Schwab,” said Sir Mark. “I zank you, sir. Ze pleasure vas mutual; ze profit shall be Schlagintwert’s.” “But how was it you were put in the dungeons?” asked Tom. “Vy, I tell you. Vun day come ze sheikh viz his men. Zink I, now has arrive ze Kaiser’s telegram. But no; zey carry us down to ze deps, and zere are ve shut opp vorse zan before!” “That was when they got the message from Salathiel ben Ezra, no doubt,” said Tom,“—the Jew you found in the cave, Mr. Schwab.” “Ven I vas so hungry!” “I wonder what has become of him?” said Oliphant. “It’s to him I owe the keenest sport I’ve ever had.”