“Yes.”
“And you were willing he should be sacrificed without moving a hand to save him?” asked the detective.
“The man is a thief, and worse than that—a liar.”
Now Zulima’s face became flushed with excitement.
“You must have held his friendship pretty cheap when you were willing to throw it aside at the behest of your uncle.”
“I will tell you the object of my present visit,” said the girl.
“I wish you would.”
“I came here to ask my uncle to set the man at liberty.”
Burt smiled at this. He believed she uttered an untruth.
“You know very well,” he said, “that Ajeeb would not grant that request.”