tween friends."

"I see you are a man of resource," said Grim.

"Of great resource, with picked lieutenants. May I see the
letter now?"

Grim produced it. Noureddin Ali took it between spidery fingers
and examined it like a schoolmaster conning a boy's composition.
But the expression of his face changed as he took in the
contents, holding the paper so that alligator-eyes could read
it, too.

"Who wrote this?" he asked.

"Can't you read the signature? Enver Eyub."

"Who is he?"

"One of Mustapha Kemal's staff."

"So. 'In pursuing your mission you will also take steps to
ascertain whether or not Noureddin Ali Bey is a person worthy of
confidence.' Aha! That is excellent! So Mustapha Kemal Pasha
has heard of me?"

Grim nodded.

"And the rest of your mission?"

"Is confidential."

"And are you satisfied that I am to be trusted?"

"I think you mean business."

"Then you should tell me what is the nature of your secret
mission to Jerusalem. Possibly I can give you needed information.
If you have obtained information of value, you should confide in
me. I can be most useful when I know most."

Grim frowned. He began to look uneasy. And the more he did that,
the more delight Noureddin Ali seemed to take in questioning him,
but be pleaded his own case, too.

"The trouble with the Nationalist movement," he insisted, "is
lack of unity. There is no mutual confidence--consequently no
combination. There are too many intellects working at cross
purposes. You should tell me what is being done, so that I may
fit in my plans accordingly. When the Dome of the Rock has been
blown up there will be ample opportunity for putting into
execution a combined plan. You must confide in me."

"Suppose I get rid of that messenger and the boy first,"
Grim suggested.

Grim felt in his pocket and produced a purse full of bank notes.
But they were all big ones.

"Never mind, I have change," said Noureddin Ali. "How much will
you give him?"

"No," said Grim. "The boy can take him to the hotel. Let him
wait for me there. He has no further business here. He should
return to Damascus. He had better travel with me in the car
tomorrow morning. Take him to the hotel, and wait for me there,
you," he added in Arabic to Suliman.

Yussuf came and opened the door. Suliman took my hand and led me
out. The door slammed shut behind me, and a great Sikh, leaning
on his rifle at a corner thirty feet away, came to l