acquiescence.

"'But her highness said that you would first of all show me her signet
so as to prove that you are acting with her authority.'

"With all due gravity I produced the chalcedony seal from my belt, and,
without quitting hold, extended it for my visitor's inspection. There
was a swift gleam of recognition in his eyes.

"'That is right,' he murmured.

"'Then proceed,' I said, quietly. 'You can speak in the fullest
confidence.'

"'I have promised the maharanee that to-morrow, when the fourth of the
day is over, I shall conduct her into the bazaars. She bade me explain
her plans precisely, so that you in turn should know how to act. Well,
her highness will be, as usual, in her palankeen slung between two
mules. When we turn from the coppersmiths' bazaar into the secluded
bazaar where the money changers dwell, the two grooms in charge of the
mules will be assailed by budmashes and beaten with sticks. I, too, will
be knocked down and my clothes torn; but do not worry on my account.'

"I gave a cheerful nod to signify that his anxiety on this score might
be set at rest.

"'It will devolve on you to have two men ready to take advantage of the
confusion of the scuffle and lead away the mules with the palankeen,
conducting the maharanee to a place which she herself will indicate.
This you understand?'

"'I understand.'

"'At night, when I shall come to you again, under cover of the
darkness, you will pay over to me the agreed-upon price--the ten pearls
which her highness has placed in your custody.'

"'They are here,' I assented, holding aloft the little string of pearls,
the purpose they were intended to serve at last made clear to my
understanding.

"The eyes of the negro flashed with cupidity, and he reached forth a
big, fat, black hand.

"'I can be trusted to do my share of the task,' he said, eagerly. 'To
save trouble, let me be paid now.'

"'Not so, thou slave,' I replied, curtly and with authority, as I
returned the pearls to their place of safe-keeping. 'The price will be
paid when the service is performed. To-morrow night you will be
admitted, Malik Kafur, if you knock three times at my gate.'

"The fellow rose to his feet, with a servile and submissive smile, and,
by a wave of my hand, I dismissed him from my presence.

"Here, indeed, was an adventure thrust upon me, a man of peace and of
studious habits, who had ever shrunk from deeds of violence; but the
hand of fate was clearly beckon