an brought me a story an hour ago about seeing him on the
city wall. However, here's the food. So let's eat."

He sat and munched gloomily, until presently Goodenough joined
us, looking, what with that monocle and one thing and another, as
if he had just stepped out of a band-box.

"Well, Grim, the net's all ready. If that TNT is where you say
it is, in that big barn behind the fruit-stalls near the Jaffa
Gate, it's ours the minute they make a move."

"There isn't a doubt on that point," Grim answered. "Why else
should Scharnhoff open a fruit-shop? The license for it was
taken out by one of Noureddin Ali's agents, whose brother deals
in fruit wholesale and owns that barn. Narayan Singh tracked
some suspicious packages to that place four days ago. They'll
start to carry it into the city hidden under loads of fruit just
as soon as the morning crowd begins to pour in. We only need let
them get the first consignment in, so as to have the chain of
evidence complete. Are you sure your men will let the first lot
go through?"

"Absolutely. Just came from giving them very careful
instructions. The minute that first load disappears into the city
they'll close in on the barn and arrest every one they find in
there. But what are you gloomy about?"

"I'd hate to miss the big fish."

"You mean Noureddin Ali ?"

"It looks to me as if he's been a shade too wise for us. One man
swore he saw him on the wall this morning, but he was gone when I
sent to make sure. We've got all the rest. There are five in
Djemal's Cafe, waiting for the big news; they'll be handcuffed
one at a time by the police when they get tired of waiting and
come out.

"But I'd rather bag Noureddin Ali than all the others put
together. He's got brains, that little beast has. He'd know how
to use this story against us with almost as much effect as if
he'd pulled the outrage off."

He had hardly finished speaking when Narayan Singh's great bulk
darkened the doorway. He closed the door behind him, as if
afraid the other Sikhs might learn bad news.

"It is true, sahib. He was on the wall. He is there again."

"Have you seen him?"

"Surely. He makes signals to the men who are loading the donkeys
now in the door of the barn. It would be a difficult shot. His
head hardly shows between the battlements. But I think I could
hit him from the road below. Shall I try?"

"No, you'd only scare him into hiding if you miss. Oh hell!
There a