until I give him
leave, he shall go as Foorgat went."

"What was the manner of Foorgat's going?" asked David quietly.

"As a wind blows through a court-yard, and the lamp goes out, so he
went--in the night. Who can say? Wherefore speculate? He is gone. It is
enough. Were it not for thee, Egypt should see Nahoum no more."

David sighed, and his eyes closed for an instant. "Effendina, Nahoum has
proved his faith--is it not so?" He pointed to the documents in Kaid's
hands.

A grim smile passed over Kaid's face. Distrust of humanity, incredulity,
cold cynicism, were in it. "Wheels within wheels, proofs within proofs,"
he said. "Thou hast yet to learn the Eastern heart. When thou seest
white in the East, call it black, for in an instant it will be black.
Malaish, it is the East! Have I not trusted--did I not mean well by all?
Did I not deal justly? Yet my justice was but darkness of purpose, the
hidden terror to them all. So did I become what thou findest me and dost
believe me--a tyrant, in whose name a thousand do evil things of which I
neither hear nor know. Proof! When a woman lies in your arms, it is not
the moment to prove her fidelity. Nahoum has crawled back to my feet
with these things, and by the beard of the Prophet they are true!" He
looked at the papers with loathing. "But what his purpose was when he
spied upon and bribed my army I know not. Yet, it shall be said, he has
held Harrik back--Harrik, my brother. Son of Sheitan and slime of the
Nile, have I not spared Harrik all these years!"

"Hast thou proof, Effendina?"

"I have proof enough; I shall have more soon. To save their lives,
these, these will tell. I have their names here." He tapped the papers.
"There are ways to make them tell. Now, speak, effendi, and tell me what
I shall do to Harrik."

"Wouldst thou proclaim to Egypt, to the Sultan, to the world that
the army is disloyal? If these guilty men are seized, can the army
be trusted? Will it not break away in fear? Yonder Nubians are not
enough--a handful lost in the melee. Prove the guilt of him who
perverted the army and sought to destroy thee. Punish him."

"How shall there be proof save through those whom he has perverted?
There is no writing."

"There is proof," answered David calmly.

"Where shall I find it?" Kaid laughed contemptuously.

"I have the proof," answered David gravely. "Against Harrik?"

"Against Prince Harrik Pasha."

"Thou--what dost thou know?"

"A woman of the