"Bring him secretly, even to the door of the favourite's room; then, have him seized and carried to a safe place till I send for him."
"Ah, saadat el basha—" The lean face of the creature smiled, and the smile was not nice to see.
"Let no harm be done him, but await my messenger, Mahommed Yeleb, and whatsoever he bids you to do, do it; for I speak."
"Ah, saadat el basha, you would strike Selamlik Pasha so—the great beast, the black river pig, the serpent of the slime….!"
"You will do this thing, Mizraim?"
"I shall lure him, as the mirage the pilgrim. With joy I will do this, and a hundred times more."
"Even if I asked of thee the keys of the harem?" asked Dicky grimly.
"Effendi, thou wouldst not ask. All the world knows thee. For thee the harem hath no lure. Thou goest not by dark ways to deeds for thine own self. Thou hast honour. Ismail himself would not fear thee."
"See, thou master of many, squeak not thy voice so high. Ismail will take thy head and mine, if he discovers to-night's business. Go then with a soft tread, Mizraim. Let thy hand be quick on his mouth, and beware that no one sees!"