"General, I have appealed to you on behalf of my people and on your own behalf, but there is one thing more." "What is it?" "Your country." The General made an impatient gesture, and the Egyptian said, "Hear me, I beg, I pray! Real as life, real as death, real as wells of water in a desert place, is their religion to the Muslemeen, and if you lay so much as your finger upon it your Government will die." He raised his hand and with one trembling finger pointed upwards. "Do you think your swords will govern them? What can your swords do to their souls? By the Most High God I swear to you that I have only to speak the word and the rule of England in Egypt will end." At that moment Colonel Macdonald, a large man in khaki, a Highlander, with a ruddy face and a glass in his left eye, opened the door and stood by it, while the General, whose own face was scarlet with anger, said— "So! So that’s how you talked to Colonel Lord, I presume—how you darkened the poor devil’s understanding! Now see—see what effect your threats have upon me. Step forward, Colonel Macdonald." The Colonel saluted and stepped up to the General, who repeated to him word for word the order he had given to Gordon, and then said— "You will arrest all who resist you, and if any resist with violence you will _compel_ obedience—you understand?" "Perfectly," said the Colonel, and saluting again he left the room. "Now, sir, you can go," said the General to Ishmael, whereupon the Egyptian, whose face had taken on an extreme pallor, replied— "Very well! I have warned you and you will not hear me. But I tell you that at this moment Israfil has the trumpet to his mouth and is only waiting for God’s order to blow it! I tell you, too, that I see you—you—on the Day of Judgment, and there are black marks on your face." "Silence, sir!" said the General, bringing his clenched fist heavily down on the desk. Then he struck the bell, and in a choking voice called first for his servant and afterwards for his Aide-de-camp. "Robson! See this man out of the Citadel! This damnable, presumptuous braggart! Robson! Where are you?" But the servant did not appear and the Aide-de-camp did not answer. "No matter," said the Egyptian. "I will go of myself. I will try to forget the hard words you have said of me. I will not retort them upon you. You are a Christian, and it was a Christian who said ’Resist not evil.’ That is a commandment as binding upon us as upon you. God’s will be done." With that Ishmael went out as he had entered, slowly, solemnly, with head bent and eyes on the ground. *CHAPTER XXVII*