Suddenly Aylmer's attention, which had been aroused merely by the fact that the sight of the man led his thoughts back to the interest of an hour before, became concentrated. The Moorish child babbled in English! "A black stallion!" he said impressively. "One that will arch his neck like the dome of the mosque, and carry me past all the other horses on the sands?" "It shall be as you desire, little lord," answered the man, easily. "We have but to take a boat from among the many below and row across to the beach. There the horse of thy desires awaits thee. Look carefully. Perchance thou canst see it even now. Thou hast the eyes of a hawk; I know it." And then Aylmer understood. He saw that below the child's ears and along the line of his hair a dye had been applied. The golden curls had been stuffed back into the hood of the _djelab_, shoes and stockings flung away, and little dye-stained feet thrust into yellow slippers. The folds of the bournous covered all else. It was the child of the street encounter, the child himself! Aylmer's instincts, rather than any formed purpose, brought him to his feet and in front of the man, as the latter was about to descend the stairs. "Where did you gain authority over this?" he asked curtly in Arabic, pointing down at the boy. The man eyed him with stony imperturbability. "Is Tangier come to such a pass that we of the Faith have to justify to Nazarenes our authority over our own children?" he asked. "Keep to thine own affairs, _Kaffirbillah_." Aylmer did not unbar the road of the steps. He leaned down and spoke directly to the child, who was regarding him with half timid curiosity. "Is this man your kavass?" he said gently. "Is he in your parents' service?" The red flush of guilt rose under the brown dye. A bright yellow curl fell from out of the _djelab_ hood as the small head was shaken. "He promised me a horse," said lips which had begun to have a distinct semblance of trembling. "They have only given me a donkey so far--only a gray donkey." "Then they do not know that you are with this man; they would not allow it?" pursued Aylmer. The Moor broke in angrily. "Do not be questioned, little lord!" he cried. "This is a son of infinite shame and wickedness, who has no rights over thee!" "As many, at least, I suspect, as thou," returned Aylmer. "This is a matter for investigation. We will come to the post of the Spanish police at the pier head." "We!" The man's eyes flashed wickedly. "I come not, nor this, my charge." Aylmer shrugged his shoulders. "That is a matter within your discretion, for yourself." He laid his hand upon the child's shoulder. "But this one goes with me." A grin of rage flashed across the Moor's features. With one hand he made a quick clawing snatch at the child's arm; the other he plunged into his bosom. As it reappeared a knife blade flashed in the sun.