y difficult to
draw on my bank in Vienna. Noureddin Ali represented himself to
me as an enthusiastic antiquarian; and when I spoke of my need
he offered money, as I told you already. I never suspected until
last night that he and Abdul Ali of Damascus are French secret
agents. But last night he boasted to me about Abdul Ali. He
laughed at me. Then he--"

"Yes, yes," Grim interrupted. "Will you play the man now, if I
give you the chance?"

"If you will accord me opportunity, at least I will do my best."

"Understand; you'll not be allowed to live here afterward.
You'll be repatriated to Austria, or wherever you come from.
All you're offered is a chance to clean your slate morally before
you go."

"I shall be grateful."

"Will you obey?"

"Absolutely--to the limit of my power, that is to say. I am not
an athlete--not a man of active habits."

"Very well. Listen." Grim turned to me again

"Take Scharnhoff to his house. You know the way. When afternoon
comes, set a table in the garden and let him sit at it. He may
as well read. If nothing happens before dark, take him out a
lamp and some food. He mustn't move away. He'd better change
into his proper clothes first. Your job will be to keep an eye
on him until I come. You'd better keep out of sight as much as
possible, especially after dark. Better watch him through the
window. And, by the way, take this pistol. If Scharnhoff
disobeys you, shoot him."

He turned again on Scharnhoff.

"I hope you're not fooling yourself. I should say the chance is
two or three to one that you'll come out of this alive. If
you're killed, you may flatter yourself that's a mighty sight
cleaner than hanging. If you come out with a whole skin, you
shall leave the country without even going to jail. Time to
go now."

I slipped the heavy pistol into my pocket and led the way without
saying a word. Scharnhoff followed me, rather drearily, and we
walked side by side toward the German Colony, he looking exactly
like one of those respectable and devout educated Arabs of the
old style, who teach from commentaries on the Koran. We excited
no comment whatever.

"What will he do? What is his purpose?" Scharnhoff asked me
after a while. "If a man is in danger of death, he likes to know
the reason--the purpose of it."

I had a better than faint glimmering of Grim's purpose, but saw
no necessity to air my views on the subject.

"I'm amused," said I, "at the st