'Take office under the Khedive's government. There will be no end of nice pickings for Europeans now that the shindy is over.'
'Office—as what?'
'Oh, anything—I am not particular—Inspector-General of Harems would suit me to a hair—down to the ground, in fact.'
'Bantering villain! And how about those diamonds you stole from Miss Raymond—a luckless heirloom in our family, always bringing evil to the holder or wearer?'
'Well, they have brought no evil to me yet,' replied Holcroft, with a defiant grin—a dogged one too; 'I have them safe here,' he added, slapping his breast pocket, 'and don't mean to part with them. They are quite a fortune to me.'
And he had the folly, the madness, in mere bravado, to show them for a moment.
'Keep these, fellow—they are certain to bring you ill-luck in some way.'
Allan was nearer the truth than he thought, as the sharp eyes of the sheikh saw the flash of the stones, and the spirit of acquisition was instantly kindled in his breast.
'Well,' thought Allan, 'this unexpected meeting is a strange coincidence; but, as Miss Braddon says, "life is made up of curious coincidences."'