Then she turned to Tadros.
“What do you think of my plan?” she asked.
“It is excellent,” said he, “except for one thing; there are several spies about this hotel, who would at once follow us and inform Kāra that we had boarded the dahabeah; but I think I can find a way to throw them off the scent. They are under my orders, and I will send them to other stations before nine o’clock. Aside from this, then, do I understand that my only duty is to deliver the young lady on board the dahabeah?”
“That is all we ask.”
“I will show three red lights,” said Winston, “so that you cannot mistake the exact location of the boat.”
“I know the boat,” replied the dragoman. “Abdallah, your engineer, is a friend of mine.”
“You will not fail us?” asked Mrs. Everingham, anxiously. “All depends upon you, Tadros!”
“I know, and I will not fail you,” he said.
“I believe you will earn the three thousand pounds,” remarked Winston, significantly.
“As for that, sir,” replied the dragoman, with dignity, “I hope you will give me credit for a little humanity as well as cupidity. Being an Egyptian, I love money; being a man, I am eager to assist a woman in distress. But, above all else, I shall have pleasure in defying Kāra, who hates me as heartily as I hate him. Thus, three passions vouch for my fidelity—love, pity and hatred. Can you doubt my devotion to the cause?”