Affair in Araby

evil that

ore than usually daring man with his wits about him, but you'd have to hunt down the valley of death before you could b

stood like a shadow among shadows in its compound, surrounded by a fairly high wall. There was a pretty str

ut there were one or two other entrances, locked, though quite easy to negotiate, which the sentry could only observe while he marched toward the

but what with the screeching of owls and a wind that sighed among the shrubs, headquarters looked

agely; so we supposed that he hadn't been paid, and went on to deduce from that that Yussuf Dakmar had driven away again, after satisfying himself that the Feisul letter had reached headquarters. It was lazy, bad reasoning-the sort of superficial

rd with Narayan Singh; and the man who leaned on his bayonet under the

bout spies who walked where they chose unchallenged during wartime; for we three-a Sikh enlisted man, an Australian disguised as an Arab

an awake, who, mistaking him for an Arab, cursed him in three languages, in the name of three separate gods, and promptly went to sleep again. The sensation was like being turned loose in the strong-room of a national treasury with nobody watchin

o the building by some private entrance, perhaps rou

s, but it was no rare thing for officers to come roistering down those front steps and along the drive hours after midnight, and our sudden silence was more likely to give alarm than the noise had been. I began talking

ooked like a bottomless abyss. But nevertheless, something bright moved in it-perhaps the sheen of that lone l

no right in that place either. Jeremy and Narayan Singh, being both in the British Army, were liable to be disciplined, and I might be requested to leave the country, if we should happen to

ing an explanation after we had turned the corner of the building. "Let one of us go and warn the guard," I sugg

ng matters to the Sikh officer, and Jeremy and I crept back through the shadows to within e

owing, although I couldn't see him, that his eyes were seeking mine. It is only the animals who omit in the darkness those instinctive daylight

there. Grim was tal

little weapon; mother o' pearl on the butt? Have you a permit? Never mind; not having the weapon you won't need a permit, will you? And papers-Mashallah!

ou to jail after all; you need a bath so badly. It seems a pity that a chief clerk to the Administration shouldn't have a chance to wash himself, doesn't it? Well, I'll h

answer. "You,

you are M

then that I'm Major Grim, disguised. Let's see now... What would he do in the circumstances? Here's Yussuf Dakmar, wanted for murder in the city and known to be plotting a massacre, seen climbing a wall when the sentry's back wa

you were Major Grim you'd have handed us over to those officers who passed just now. You're just as

hose papers you have taken, if we are caught I shall say you stole them from the office-

et you go. I think you're dangerous. You'd better

ack the pa

d discuss them with th

idn't answer, but go

ll awaken some officer and start hue and cry with a story that we

ast!" Gri

oice perceptibly, as if

ll. Perhaps they were strangers. It may be that one of them i

decoy the guard elsewhere. I didn't envy him the job, for Sikhs use cold steel first and argue afterward when on the qui vive in the dark. However, he accomplished his purpose. Narayan

You are a fool if you wait here any longer. That fellow Gr

," Grim answered, and you

Grim's answer was the real surprise of the evening. I

er that came from

ot it! I swe

dy, for I searched

turn gave it to an Arab, who brought it here. I hoped that fellow Charkian might steal it back again, but you

Grim answered. "

Said? You

pay me a thousan

s face! He only offe

eady, then?" Grim aske

d you s

opped my cab to speak to m

ady on the track of the letter, and that in turn explained why he had not seized Yussuf Dakmar and put him in

ur name?" h

Omar,"

idi Said told me that the British are sure to confront Feisul with it, and to do it secretly if t

ed Grim, who is much too good an actor

ou, even though you have my revolver and dagger. You dare not kill me, for I would shout for help and the guard would come. You are in danger as much as I am. So you may either agree

mit gracefully to that much blackmail. Besides, Grim was rathe

he answered. "Your demand is unr

me back m

o has not yet returned it. That was a piece of wood with wh

ome by in Jerusalem

it to protect my

need to fear me if

now; and I may find it convenient to s

ll, tel

e Sikh to steal that letter from you, and I was concealed in his house when the letter was bro

very smart.

n his person. One is an Arab. One is an American. The third is that same Sikh who took the letter

ely clever of, you!"

l, and you will do as well as any. If I steal the letter they may accuse me; but i

That will b

shall suspect you of intending to play a trick on me. In that event I shall shoot you with your own pistol, and take my

ewise!" Yussuf Dakma

"The best thing you can do between now and t

s irritable-nervous; he will

, you should tell him that you are confident of getting the letter if he will only leave the business to you alone. Give him every assurance, and explain to him that interference may mean failure. No

. And I shall meet you at

tor. You will see us join the train there.

up and go. He had hardly time to get out of ear

ere, Ra

answering I

what was sai

est both the blackguards

mile in his voice. "The important thing is to sidetrack the French

t-marshal's guard to t

don't throw stones. What I think has been accomplished is to reduce our probable risk down to Yussuf Dakmar, who's a mean squib at best; and I think we've dr

aid I; and I told Grim of our

of state; but a ship run in the same way would pile up or sink the first nigh

rescue Jeremy. I think the guard pinched him. Say, did you intend one

and heard you breathe as you crept back. You nearly spoilt the g

hs didn't shoot Jeremy i

"I guess he's too useful to

e by side. "That was a close shave-too close