“What? oh, I can’t believe it!”
“Well, don’t try now,” and Stone smiled at her. “It’s all I can do to manage this fiery steed without trying to tell you unbelievable things at the same time. Let me tell you something more easy of credulity.”
Pauline’s smile was permission, and Stone had no difficulty in convincing her of certain self-evident truths.
By the time the trio reached Cairo, Ahri was as staunch a follower and as true a slave of Fleming Stone as he had been of Carrington Loria. At Stone’s direction he returned to his former master, for the present, and gave no hint of the later development of the kidnapping scheme.
“All went off as planned?” said Loria, secure in his servant’s fidelity.
“Yes, master,” answered the devoted trusty, and Loria said no more on the subject.
That evening when Fleming Stone went to Carr Loria’s rooms, he was accompanied by Pauline and the Englishman, Pitts.
Loria started at sight of his cousin, but quickly recovered his poise and jauntily asked her where she had come from.
“No place like Cairo, for me,” she replied in the same light tone, and they all sat down in Loria’s den.
“More company than I expected,” he said, as he bustled about, seating them. “Ahri, another chair.”