Somewhat doubtfully, somewhat sheepishly, Stetson drew from his pocket a flat morocco case and opened it. “What's the matter with one of these?” he asked.
In a velvet-lined jewel case was a star of green enamel and silver gilt. To it was attached a ribbon of red and green.
“That's the Star of the Crescent,” said Peter. “Where did you buy it?”
“Buy it!” exclaimed Stetson. “You don't buy them. The Sultan bestows them.”
“I'll bet the Sultan didn't bestow that one,” said Peter.
“I'll bet,” returned Stetson, “I've got something in my pocket that says he did.”
He unfolded an imposing document covered with slanting lines of curving Arabic letters in gold. Peter was impressed but still skeptical.
“What does that say when it says it in English?” he asked.
“It says,” translated Stetson, “that his Imperial Majesty, the Sultan, bestows upon Henry Stetson, educator, author, lecturer, the Star of the Order of the Crescent, of the fifth class, for services rendered to Turkey.”
Peter interrupted him indignantly.