see the Saadat before his return to Cairo, perhaps he would
convey a message. He could not urge his presence on the Saadat, since he
had not been honoured with any communication since yesterday.

"Well, that's good-mannered, anyhow, pasha," said Lacey with cheerful
nonchalance. "People don't always know when they're wanted or not
wanted."

Nahoum looked at him guardedly, sighed and sat down. "Things have grown
worse since yesterday," he said. "Prince Kaid received the news badly."
He shook his head. "He has not the gift of perfect friendship. That is
a Christian characteristic; the Muslim does not possess it. It was too
strong to last, maybe--my poor beloved friend, the Saadat."

"Oh, it will last all right," rejoined Lacey coolly. "Prince Kaid has
got a touch of jaundice, I guess. He knows a thing when he finds it,
even if he hasn't the gift of 'perfect friendship,' same as Christians
like you and me. But even you and me don't push our perfections too
far--I haven't noticed you going out of your way to do things for your
'poor beloved friend, the Saadat'."

"I have given him time, energy, experience--money."

Lacey nodded. "True. And I've often wondered why, when I've seen the
things you didn't give and the things you took away."

Nahoum's eyes half closed. Lacey was getting to close quarters with
suspicion and allusion; but it was not his cue to resent them yet.

"I had come now to offer him help; to advance him enough to carry
through his expedition."

"Well, that sounds generous, but I guess he would get on without it,
pasha. He would not want to be under any more obligations to you."

"He is without money. He must be helped."

"Just so."

"He cannot go to the treasury, and Prince Kaid has refused. Why should
he decline help from his friend?" Suddenly Lacey changed his tactics. He
had caught a look in Nahoum's eyes which gave him a new thought. "Well,
if you've any proposition, pasha, I'll take it to him. I'll be seeing
him to-night."

"I can give him fifty thousand pounds."

"It isn't enough to save the situation, pasha."

"It will help him over the first zareba."

"Are there any conditions?"

"There are no conditions, effendi."

"And interest?"

"There would be no interest in money."

"Other considerations?"

"Yes, other considerations, effendi."

"If they were granted, would there be enough still in the stocking to
help him over a second zareba--or a third, perhaps?"

"That would be