"He still seemed to hesitate; but this time I had merely to point to the mirror to decide him.
"'Depart in peace,' he said.
"'But I shall need guides and an escort,' I replied.
"'You shall have them.'
"'And a letter of safe conduct. Take your pen and write.'
"I put the materials before him, and he wrote at my dictation:—
"'Senussi-el-Mahdi to all whom it may concern. Greeting—
"'Jean Antoine Stromboli Kosnapulski, the stranger within my gates, goeth on a high errand for me to Cairo. Let him have guides and camels. Let him start at once. Protect him and speed him on his way.'
"'Good,' I said; but then I remembered something else.
"There were his trances, and the murderous messages that he might send in them. Against that risk also I must make provision. So I made him add—