“Come forth that we may see you,” said Amonasis. “Be not afraid.”
“What of the others who have gone before?” asked Mr. Hampton, with difficulty mastering all this Athensian.
“They be true men, too,” said Jepthah, in a tone of satisfaction. “Amrath should have been with us these last two days. There was a great hunting out of spies and informers in Korakum. Now all are hanged.”
At these words, Mr. Hampton arose and stepped forth, at the same time beckoning his companions to do likewise. Deepest astonishment was visible on the faces of the four Athensians at this unexpected sight.
“Who among you speaks French, Spanish or English?” Mr. Hampton asked. “Or Arabic, either?” he added, thinking of Ali. If Amrath had spoken truly in saying the revolutionaries all were young men of the priest clan who had been sent abroad in the world to study among various civilized peoples, it was possible that one of the four was capable of conducting the necessary conversation in a language more familiar to Mr. Hampton than Athensian.
Jepthah smiled.
“You are an Englishman?” he asked, in English with only a trace of accent. “I have served in the Egyptian armies of England and know the language, perhaps a trifle better than you, sir”—with a deprecatory bow—“know our native tongue.”
“Not English,” said Mr. Hampton smiling, “but American. However, our tongue is the same and I’m mighty glad to meet a man who can speak it.”
Jepthah bowed. Politeness among these men seemed unfailing.
“If you are a friend of Amrath,” he said, “we can speak plainly. We are on an important mission and must not delay. What message does he send, and where is he? We feared he had been done away with.”