Zülfikar dodged the lance which was turned in his direction, and said with a Pharisaical air:
"What does your honour deign to inquire of me?"
"Didst thou hear what I said to thee just now?"
"Dost thou mean: where I went robbing? I swear by the beard of the Prophet that I go nowhither for such a purpose."
"I know very well, thou cat, that thou goest nowhither where there is trouble, but thou dost ferret out where a fat booty lies hidden, and thou leadest our Spahis on the track of it, wherefore they give thee also a portion of it; so answer me at once whom thou art wont to visit at night, as otherwise I shall open a hole in thy head."
"But, sir, betray me not; for the Spahis would tie me to a horse's tail and the Pasha would impale me. Thou knowest that he does not allow robbery, but if it happens he looks through his fingers."
"So far from betraying thee I would go with thee, I only know one mode of getting hold of booty. While the others storm a village, I stand a little distance off at the farther end of the village; whoever has anything to save always makes for the farther end of the village, and so falls into my hands."
The renegade began to feel in his element.
"My good sir, at night the Spahis will go to Élesd. There dwell rich Wallachians away from the high road. They have never had blackmail levied on them and there's lots of gold and silver there; if we get a good haul, do not betray me."
"But may we not fall in with the soldiers of Ladislaus Székely?"