“If I had received the orders of the Effendina on the night when the Effendina dismissed Nahoum—” Achmet said softly, and broke off.
“A curse upon thine eyes that did not see thy duty!” Kaid replied gloomily. Then he turned to High. “My seal has been put upon Foorgat’s doors? His treasure-places have been found? The courts have been commanded as to his estate, the banks—”
“It was too late, Effendina,” replied High hopelessly. Kaid got to his feet slowly, rage possessing him. “Too late! Who makes it too late when I command?”
“When Foorgat was found dead, Nahoum at once seized the palace and the treasures. Then he went to the courts and to the holy men, and claimed succession. That was while it was yet early morning. Then he instructed the banks. The banks hold Foorgat’s fortune against us, Effendina.”
“Foorgat had turned Mahommedan. Nahoum is a Christian. My will is law. Shall a Christian dog inherit from a true believer? The courts, the Wakfs shall obey me. And thou, son of a burnt father, shalt find Nahoum! Kaid shall not be cheated. Foorgat pledged the loan. It is mine. Allah scorch thine eyes!” he added fiercely to Achmet, “but thou shalt find this Christian gentleman, Nahoum.”
Suddenly, with a motion of disgust, he sat down, and taking the stem of the narghileh, puffed vigorously in silence. Presently in a red fury he cried: “Go—go—go, and bring me back by midnight Nahoum, and Foorgat’s treasures, to the last piastre. Let every soldier be a spy, if thine own spies fail.”
As they turned to go, the door opened again, the black slave appeared, and ushered David into the room. David salaamed, but not low, and stood still.
On the instant Kaid changed, The rage left his face. He leaned forward eagerly, the cruel and ugly look faded slowly from his eyes.
“May thy days of life be as a river with sands of gold, effendi,” he said gently. He had a voice like music. “May the sun shine in thy heart and fruits of wisdom flourish there, Effendina,” answered David quietly. He saluted the others gravely, and his eyes rested upon Achmet in a way which Higli Pasha noted for subsequent gossip.
Kaid pulled at his narghileh for a moment, mumbling good-humouredly to himself and watching the smoke reel away; then, with half-shut eyes, he said to David: “Am I master in Egypt or no, effendi?”