"You are right, Helmar," he said, slowly. "I have another object in coming here." He paused for a moment, impatiently tugging at the fringe of his sash. "You remember I asked you at Port Said about joining Arabi?"
"I do—what about it?" said George, in tones of supreme indifference.
"That offer was made with the best of feeling towards you, and, as I thought, for your good. It would have brought you wealth, as it has me."
"And very nice comfortable means you adopted to attain my conversion, didn't you?" broke in Helmar, with upraised eyebrows.
"Well, perhaps the treatment was a little rough, but the intention was, nevertheless, sincere."
"Doubtless. Go on."
"Well," Mark went on, with eyes looking anywhere but at the man in front of him, "at that time I thought that Arabi would be bound to win the day, and we," with emphasis on the word, "should be made for life. But I was mistaken, and now it is plain to me that Arabi must fall."
Again he paused, as if waiting for comment from his companion, but none came, and he nervously continued, while Helmar kept his keen eyes fixed upon him.
"Of course I've made a pile of money," he went on, with a leer, "so that now I've only to get out of the country when the crash comes, and I can do anything I wish."
"Ah!" ejaculated Helmar, beginning to see through this man's scheming. "And you would get some one to help you do that, eh?" he added, unable to conceal his contempt, as he realized the sneaking character of this villain.