"He is not sowing dissension between Moslems and Christians?"
"No! On the contrary, he professes to be opposed to all that, sir."
"Then you see no reason to think that he is likely to be a danger to the public peace?"
"Unfortunately no, sir, no!"
The Sirdar laughed. "He hasn't yet given 'divine' sanction for your removal, Colonel?"
"Not that I know of, at all events."
"Then you and your wife may sleep in peace for the present, I suppose."
There was a little general laughter, and then the Inspector-General, a sceptic with a contempt for holy men of all kinds, said—
"All the same, your Excellency, I should make short work of this pseudo-Messiah."
"Without plain cause we cannot," said the Sirdar, who was the friend of all faiths and the enemy of none. "Indeed, a broad-minded Mohammedan such as this man is said to be might possibly be of service in directing the religion of the Soudan."