or three days. I am afraid that you are
bungling matters."

"And you--what of you?" the other answered, hotly. "What were your men
doing at Solika to be driven back by a handful of half-trained
farmers? I expected the Turks at Theos to-day, and all would have been
well. Yet with eighty thousand men you do nothing. You too who have
boasted of your soldiers and your artillery as the equal of any in
Europe."

The visitor shrugged his shoulders.

"Domiloff," he said, "you are irritated and nervous. Be careful what
you say. I admit that so far we have been checked, but it is not sense
to talk of half-trained farmers. Ughtred of Tyrnaus is a fine soldier.
Mind, I was with him in Egypt, and he had a sound training there. His
dispositions against attack are excellent. He has evidently been
thinking them out since first he came here. Then you told us that he
had no modern artillery at all."

"He had not, then," Domiloff answered. "These batteries were a present
from a rich fool of an American or his daughter."

"The fair Sara Van Decht! I heard that she was here."

"You know her?"

"She visited at Colonel Erlito's in London," Hassen answered. "So did
I. But that is of no consequence. You very well know that we relied
upon your help to finish this campaign quickly. So far you have done
nothing. Perhaps you do not understand the reason for haste. Let me
tell you this. Even now the message is before the Sultan waiting for
his signature which will recall the troops and bring the invasion to
an end."

"Gorteneff is in Constantinople himself," Domiloff answered. "He will
not allow it to be signed."

"Gorteneff! So is Sir Henry White in Constantinople. You seem to
forget that."

Domiloff's face was black.

"White! The Englishman! Bah! You will not tell me that your master
fears the English any more. Their day is over. They have no longer a
place amongst the Powers."

Hassen smiled.

"You exaggerate," he said. "England is the only country in Europe at
least who could bring our master's palace about his ears in
twenty-four hours, and make beautiful Constantinople a heap of
blackened ruins. No, no, Domiloff. My master is wishful to serve you.
We are here--so far we have done all the work--it is for your aid now
we ask. That is only fair. You do not seem to understand the real
reason for haste. I know that at any moment the protest which White
has already presented may be followed by an ultimatum."

"And your master wo