o join them, I fail to see how it could profit
thee. In this land there is no hope for a Christian unless by foreign
protection. And of all the races of foreigners the English are the
richest and the most powerful. By Allah, thou wast a fool ever to
anger them; thou shouldst have hid thy thoughts and bowed to their will
in all things, even as I do. Thou seest they will make of me a priest,
a grand khawajah. They would have done the same for thee hadst thou
behaved with common prudence. If not a priest, thou mayest still
become a well-paid schoolmaster by their protection. Thou wouldst do
well, therefore, to forsake this Mitri, who has nothing to offer. Be
advised, I entreat thee!"

Asad was a tall, lean youth, lantern-jawed, and of a serious
countenance, in age a few months younger than Iskender. His complexion
was swarthier than the common, and his eyes, like the eyes of his
father Costantin, were furtive, with a cast of malice. The boys had
always been on friendly terms, in spite of standing jealousy between
their parents. But to-day the patronage in Asad's speech incensed
Iskender. What need had he, the Emir's right-hand, of compassion and
advice from any whipper-snapper? He replied with sarcasm:

"May Allah repay thy kindness, O my dear! Had I known thy mind had
such anxiety on my account I should certainly have sent a messenger to
reassure thee. Believe me, all thy fears for my welfare are quite
groundless, for never had I such good cause to praise the Lord as at
this present. Behold me in the road to wealth and honour, possessing
the favour of an English nobleman, for whom these missionaries are mere
specks of dirt. My kind lord vows that I have talent as a maker of
likenesses, and wishes me to receive the best instruction in that art.
For a beginning, he has sent express to the land of the English for
better instruments and materials than I could here obtain. Indeed,
there is no cause to fear for me. The praise to Allah!"

"Praise to Allah!" echoed Asad sneeringly, stung to reprisals by
Iskender's tone. "But concerning that Emir of thine I have a word to
say. They have heard up there how thou hast fastened on him like a
leech, and dost boast to all men that his wealth is thine. I myself
heard the Father of Ice declare that thy designs were iniquitous and
must be thwarted. He himself will go to the Emir and tell him thy
whole history, which is nothing good; so thou hadst best beware. By