"Then he must be taken and punished." "First catch your brown hare, master officer of infantry," said Bob, smiling. "He won't set foot here again, depend upon it, unless he slinks in at night. By George, what a malicious lot they must be, to act like that!" "Yes, it's not pleasant," said Tom Long, with an involuntary shudder, as, in imagination, he saw the dark face of his enemy always on the watch for an opportunity to assassinate him. "I never finished my account of the trip to the sultan's," said Bob, at last. "Was there anything more to tell?" "Yes, one thing," replied Bob; "the best of the whole lot." "What was it?" "Don't get riled if I tell you." "Pooh! how can it rile me?" "Oh, I don't know; only it may. It was a proposal made by the sultan to Mr Linton." "Proposal! What proposal?" "Well, I'll tell you; only don't go into fits. It was after we'd been sitting smoking for a bit, and just before we were coming away. Master Sultan had shown us all his best things--his gold and silver, and his slaves, and the dingy beauties with great earrings, and bangles on their arms and legs, who have the honour of being his wives; and at last he said something to Mr Linton, who understands his lingo as well as you and I do French." "Well, but what did he propose?" said Long, eagerly. "I got to know afterwards from Captain Smithers," continued Bob, "that he said he had been thinking very seriously about his position in connexion with the English, and that he saw how a strong alliance would be best for all; that it would settle him in his government, and make it a very excellent match for the English, who would be able to get tin and rice from the sultan's people, and gold." "You're as prosy as an old woman," said Tom Long, impatiently. "Yes, it's an accomplishment of mine," said Bob coolly. "Well, as I was telling you, he said the proper thing was a very strong alliance; and the resident said we had already made one. He said he wanted a stronger one; and he thought the best thing would be for him to marry Miss Linton and her cousin, and then it would be all right." "Why, confound his insolence!" said Tom Long, starting up. "No, no, you must say something else," cried Bob. "I said that as soon as I heard it." "Did not Mr Linton knock him down?" cried Tom Long. "No, he did not. He heard him out, and said it must be a matter of consideration; and then we came away." "But it's monstrous!" cried Tom Long. "Of course it is," said Bob, coolly; "but don't you see it was of no use to break with the fellow at once. It was a case of diplomacy. We don't want to quarrel with Master Sultan Hamet: we want to keep friends." "But it was such an insult to the ladies!"