y, Adams, that you and I may come to a
miserable end, solely because of this young man's erotic tendencies.
Just fancy neglecting business in order to run after a pretty,
round-faced Jewess, that is if she _is_ a Jewess, which I doubt, as the
blood must have got considerably mixed by now, and the first Queen of
Sheba, if she ever existed, was an Ethiopian. As a friend almost old
enough to be his father, I shall speak to him very seriously."

"All right," I called after him as he hobbled off to take his bath,
"only if you are wise, you won't speak to Maqueda, for she might
misinterpret your motives if you go on staring at her as you did
yesterday."

That morning I was summoned to see the Prince Joshua and dress his
wounds, which, although not of a serious nature, were very painful. The
moment that I entered the man's presence I noticed a change in his face.
Like the rest of us I had always set this fellow down as a mere poltroon
and windbag, a blower of his own trumpet, as Oliver had called him. Now
I got an insight into his real nature which showed me that although
he might be these things and worse, he was also a very determined and
dangerous person, animated by ambitions which he meant to satisfy at all
hazards.

When I had done what I could for him and told him that in my opinion he
had no ill results to fear from his hurts, since the thick clothes he
was wearing at the time had probably cleaned the lion's paws of any
poison that might have been on them, he said,

"Physician, I desire private words with you."

I bowed, and he went on:

"The Child of Kings, hereditary ruler of this land, somewhat against the
advice of her Council, has thought fit to employ you and your Gentile
companions in order that by your skill and certain arts of which you are
masters you may damage its ancient enemies, the Fung, and in reward has
promised to pay you well should you succeed in your endeavours. Now, I
wish you to understand that though you think yourselves great men, and
may for aught I know be great in your own country, here you are but
servants like any other mercenaries whom it may please us to hire."

His tone was so offensive that, though it might have been wiser to keep
silent, I could not help interrupting him.

"You use hard words, Prince," I said; "let me then explain what is the
real pay for which we work and undergo some risks. Mine is the hope of
recovering a son who is the slave of your enemies. That of t