“We would be in great distress if the brave visitors should soon depart,” was the roundabout answer to the question of Canby as to what he and his companions might expect, and the evasive words were spoken with oriental gravity.
Macauley shrugged his shoulders. “Much good it does you to try and pump him”—this an aside to his comrade.
The Turk raised his eyes, but by no other sign showed interest in or desire to know what the Briton had said to his mate.
“May I have a word with the young gentlemen?”
The Turk bowed to Billy and Henri, who had been singularly silent for them, and still engaged with some of the confections that came with the coffee.
“Go ahead, your excellency,” said the Bangor boy, returning the salutation with a short nod.
“I must request that you go with me for a brief hour or two.”
“But what about our friends here?” asked Henri.
“I beg that they will excuse you for a little while.”
With this, the Turk stepped aside and motioned the boys to precede him through the doorway. Having no other choice, the lads marched out, with assurance to Macauley and Canby that they would return as soon as permitted to do so.