“Not at all, sir. I represent the ‘Empire City Crier.’” “And I represent her Britannic Majesty. I regret that the ‘deal’ to which you have referred cannot come off.” “Then your Mission will be a failure, General.” “Pardon me, but that is no concern of yours.” “Well, you are the first man I ever knew bring a wife and daughter into a place like this on such an almighty poor chance. I don’t know what you think, gentlemen”--Mr Hicks wheeled round in his chair and glanced at the rest of the party--“but I say--and I know something about this place--that you have a precious small hope of getting out of Kubbet-ul-Haj with your lives if your Mission does fail.” “You really must excuse my staff from commenting on your interesting piece of information, Mr Hicks,” said Sir Dugald, smoothly; “but they are not accustomed to be set up as a court of appeal over me.” “May I ask, General, whether you know why Fath-ud-Din, the Grand Vizier, did not ride out to welcome you to-day?” “I believe he was ill,” said Sir Dugald, stifling a yawn. “He was so sick that he was riding past my house to the bath at the moment you were entering the city on the other side.” “I don’t quite see,” said Dick, “why a piece of bad manners on Fath-ud-Din’s part should be such a fearful omen for us.” “I guess you think yourself dreadful smart, Colonel,” returned Mr Hicks; “but you soldier officers are a bit too cute sometimes. Old Fath-ud-Din is a bad crowd generally, and he means mischief. Leaving him out of account, what do you think has happened to your friend the Crown Prince, Rustam Khan? Has he dropped in on you here yet?” “Scarcely,” said Dick. “We have not arrived so very long, you know.” “That is so.” Mr Hicks disregarded the sarcasm implied in the words. “But I know something of that young man, and I can tell you he would have been around here like greased lightning if he had had the chance. He was afraid of losing his scalp if he attempted it. The fact is, you gentlemen are behind the times.” “Ah, but we’ll be truly grateful if you’ll enlighten us a little,” put in Fitz, in a most alluring brogue, which he kept for use on special occasions. Mr Hicks glanced sharply at Sir Dugald. The slightest sign of interest or eagerness would have determined him to impart no information except at a price, but the look of repressed weariness which was just visible in the half-light served to pique the American into doing his best to surprise and startle his bored and scornful host. He leant back in his chair with his thumbs stuck in his waistcoat pockets.