"Tales of his wealth and importance, Sidi," he answered, in accents of subjection.
Rattier drew up the monocle which swung from a ribbon at his buttonhole and concentrated his stare upon the Moor.
"Wealth?" he repeated tersely.
Absalaam opened his arms to their widest and held his palms emptily outflung.
"Wealth sufficient to buy all Tangier, all Fez, the whole of Mogrheb al Acksa, if a tenth of the reports be true. His life, therefore? How can one value it!"
He beamed upon them. He had been robbed of his slowly forged culmination, but he had, at least, been able to offer them a surprise.
Aylmer replaced upon the ground the hoof which he had been holding. He looked at the Moor good-humoredly.
"So the gossip mongers of the Sôk credit this infant with riches?" he said. "On what evidence, if any?"
Absalaam made a motion towards the sea.
"In the harbor, when you landed, did you observe a yacht, Sidi—a white boat, with lines of gold at her cutwater and figurehead?"