“I cannot say for certain,” was the reply; “but if you will give me leave I will see him and sound him upon the subject.”
“Humph!” from the old lawyer.
“He has just been paid, and would no doubt like to stay and rest here a little while, but I daresay I could prevail upon him to go with you if he saw you first.”
“Then he is to be the master, not we?”
“Well, gentlemen, I don’t say that,” said the landlord smiling; “but people out here are very different to what they are at home. I have learned by bitter experience how independent they can be, and how strong their natural dislike is to Christians.”
“This man is not a Christian, then?”
“Oh, no, sir! a Muslim, a thorough-going Turk.”
“He will not carry his religious feelings to the pitch of pushing us over some precipice in the mountains, eh? and then come home thinking he has done a good work, eh, Mr Landlord?” said the old lawyer.
“Oh, no! I’ll answer for his integrity, sir. If he engages to go with you, have no hesitation in trusting him with your baggage, your arms, your purses if you like. If he undertakes to be your guide, he will lose his life sooner than see you robbed of a single piastre.”
“And what will he require?” said Mr Burne shortly; “what pay?”