"He will marry the woman, with your permission, Excellency. He loved her—so it would seem."
"He shall die—the dog of an infidel!"
Dicky was now satisfied that Sowerby was alive, and that the game was fairly begun. He moved slowly towards his purpose.
"I ask his life, as a favour to me. The Khedive honours me, and I can serve you betimes, Excellency."
"You called me 'Trousers,' and all Egypt laughed," answered the Pasha malignantly.
"I might have called you worse, but I did not. You may call me what you will—I will laugh."
"I will call you a fool for bringing me here to laugh at you, who now would kiss Selamlik Pasha's shoe. I would he were your brother. I would tear out his fingernails, pierce his eyes, burn him with hot irons, pour boiling oil over him and red cinders down his throat—if he were your brother."
"Remember I am in the confidence of the Khedive, Pasha."
"Ismail! What dare he do? Every Egyptian in the land would call him infidel. Ismail would dare do nothing." His voice was angrily guttural with triumph.
"England will ask the price of the young man's life of you, Excellency."