‘Is your friend one of us? Does he know anything about the business you put before me the other day?’ I asked of the Swiss in Italian. Before the Swiss could do more than give me a warning gesture, the unknown had addressed him in the sort of Italian which forms the common speech of seamen in the Levant. ‘Is this the man you thought you could persuade to undertake the work?’ The watchmaker was fairly cornered. ‘Go inside and I will speak to you,’ he said to the swarthy outlander; then he added, speaking in quick French to me--‘I must have some explanation with you before I trust you again.’ ‘That will not do for me,’ I returned, sticking to my Italian and trying to render it intelligible to the unknown. ‘You have asked me to do a dangerous work on behalf of the cause; very well, I am ready to do it, but first I insist on knowing who is going to provide the sinews of war. That is fair, it seems to me.’ This time the stranger’s tone became peremptory. ‘Why do not you wish me to speak to this man?’ he asked. The shopkeeper scowled at both of us by turns. ‘Because I don’t know that he is right,’ he muttered. ‘How do I know that you are right?’ I retorted. ‘It appears you are going to have a big price for this business, and you want me to shut my eyes and not ask what becomes of the money.’ The Swiss wrung his hands in despair. I believe that he was quite honest, and that he wished for the money in order to spread his atrocious principles; while his distrust of me was only too well founded. I addressed myself boldly to the unknown. ‘I am your man, I believe. Tell me who you are, and why you want this job carried out, and I will undertake it. As for the money, you may hand that over to my comrade here, as long as I know how much it is.’ This last offer turned the balance. The Swiss himself proposed that we should come into the back shop and talk things over in confidence. When we were all three seated together, it was the watchmaker who gave me the long-sought explanation in a few words. ‘This man is an Abyssinian. He has come here on behalf of the Emperor Menelik.’ ‘Menelik!’ I exclaimed in astonishment. ‘What has he got to do with us?’ ‘Nothing directly; but if you have read the papers you must know that Humbert was the moving spirit in the Abyssinian war. He made peace after Adowa, under pressure from the Crown Prince, who told him the dynasty was in danger. But Menelik believes that the King is secretly preparing for a fresh attack. He is in league with the British, who are advancing from the Sudan. The Abyssinians want to clear the Italians out of their country altogether, and they can never do that while Humbert is alive. That is how it stands, isn’t it?’ This last question was addressed to Menelik’s agent. The Abyssinian answered by a smile that showed his formidable white teeth.