derly with an affirmative
and ceremonial message to Prince Kaid--and a piece of gold.

"You've learned the custom of the place," said Lacey, as he saw the gold
piece glitter in the brown palm of the orderly.

"I suppose the man's only pay is in such service," rejoined David. "It
is a land of backsheesh. The fault is not with the people; it is with
the rulers. I am not sorry to share my goods with the poor."

"You'll have a big going concern here in no time," observed Lacey. "Now,
if I had those millions I left in Mexico--" Suddenly he stopped. "Is it
you that's trying to settle up an estate here--at Assiout--belonged to
an uncle?"

David inclined his head.

"They say that you and Prince Kaid are doing the thing yourselves, and
that the pashas and judges and all the high-mogul sharks of the Medjidie
think that the end of the world has come. Is that so?"

"It is so, if not completely so. There are the poor men and humble--the
pashas and judges and the others of the Medjidie, as thee said, are not
poor. But such as the orderly yonder--" He paused meditatively.

Lacey looked at David with profound respect. "You make the poorest your
partners, your friends. I see, I see. Jerusalem, that's masterly! I
admire you. It's a new way in this country." Then, after a moment:
"It'll do--by golly, it'll do! Not a bit more costly, and you do some
good with it. Yes--it--will--do."

"I have given no man money save in charity and for proper service done
openly," said David, a little severely.

"Say--of course. And that's just what isn't done here. Everything goes
to him who hath, and from him who hath not is taken away even that which
he hath. One does the work and another gets paid--that's the way here.
But you, Mr. Claridge, you clinch with the strong man at the top, and,
down below, you've got as your partners the poor man, whose name is
Legion. If you get a fall out of the man at the top, you're solid with
the Legion. And if the man at the top gets up again and salaams and
strokes your hand, and says, 'Be my brother,' then it's a full Nile,
and the fig-tree putteth forth its tender branches, and the date-palm
flourisheth, and at the village pond the thanksgiving turkey gobbles and
is glad. 'Selah'!"

The sunset gun boomed out from the citadel. David turned to go, and
Lacey added:

"I'm waiting for a pasha who's taking toll of the officers inside
there--Achmet Pasha. They call him the Ropemaker, because so many pass
throug