Rashid, who looked more like a Jew than an Egyptian, was the first, and he stared at Max with eyes which seemed to glitter with hate.
He was quickly followed by Barbasson, whose skin had been changed from olive to almost black through exposure to the sun.
Barbasson was the owner of a number of Dahabeahs, and he imagined Max to be some wealthy foreigner who was desirous of engaging a Dahabeah for business or pleasure.
He had scarcely made his salaam before Nasr el Adin, a Persian, entered and embraced Shula most warmly.
The door was closed, curtains of heavy chenille were drawn round the room and everything done to prevent the slightest sound being heard on the outside.
“We ought to remove our shoes,” said Shula, “for this illustrious one is a messenger from the Mahdi.”
The three visitors rose to their feet, salaamed very low, and murmured some words of prayer.
“The Mahdi is coming,” said Max, “but are you ready?”
“What are we to do?”
“Raise his standard over Kordofan.”