As they turned to go, the door opened again, the black slave appeared, and ushered David into the room. David salaamed, but not low, and stood still. On the instant Kaid changed, The rage left his face. He leaned forward eagerly, the cruel and ugly look faded slowly from his eyes. "May thy days of life be as a river with sands of gold, effendi," he said gently. He had a voice like music. "May the sun shine in thy heart and fruits of wisdom flourish there, Effendina," answered David quietly. He saluted the others gravely, and his eyes rested upon Achmet in a way which Higli Pasha noted for subsequent gossip. Kaid pulled at his narghileh for a moment, mumbling good-humouredly to himself and watching the smoke reel away; then, with half-shut eyes, he said to David: "Am I master in Egypt or no, effendi?" "In ruling this people the Prince of Egypt stands alone," answered David. "There is no one between him and the people. There is no Parliament." "It is in my hand, then, to give or to withhold, to make or to break?" Kaid chuckled to have this tribute, as he thought, from a Christian, who did not blink at Oriental facts, and was honest. David bowed his head to Kaid's words. "Then if it be my hand that lifts up or casts down, that rewards or that punishes, shall my arm not stretch into the darkest corner of Egypt to bring forth a traitor? Shall it not be so?" "It belongs to thy power," answered David. "It is the ancient custom of princes here. Custom is law, while it is yet the custom." Kaid looked at him enigmatically for a moment, then smiled grimly--he saw the course of the lance which David had thrown. He bent his look fiercely on Achmet and Higli. "Ye have heard. Truth is on his lips. I have stretched out my arm. Ye are my arm, to reach for and gather in Nahoum and all that is his." He turned quickly to David again. "I have given this hawk, Achmet, till to-morrow night to bring Nahoum to me," he explained. "And if he fails--a penalty? He will lose his place?" asked David, with cold humour. "More than his place," Kaid rejoined, with a cruel smile. "Then is his place mine, Effendina," rejoined David, with a look which could give Achmet no comfort. "Thou will bring Nahoum--thou?" asked Kaid, in amazement. "I have brought him," answered David. "Is it not my duty to know the will of the Effendina and to do it, when it is just and right?" "Where is he--where does he wait?" questioned Kaid eagerly. "Within the Palace--here," replied David. "He awaits his fate in thine own dwelling, Effendina." Kaid glowered upon Achmet. "In the years which Time, the Scytheman, will cut from thy life, think, as thou fastest at Ramadan or feastest at Beiram, how Kaid filled thy plate when thou wast a beggar, and made thee from a dog of a fellah into a pasha. Go to thy dwelling, and come here no more," he added sharply. "I am sick of thy yellow, sinful face."