Oriental Encounters / Palestine and Syria, 1894-6

ICE

ft it lying on the table in the hotel bedroom. When I came back in the small hours of the morning it was gone. Rash?d-who slept out at a khan in charge of our two

ndividual, whom I had generally seen recumbent on a sofa in his office, while someone of his many sons did all the work. But that he could show ener

I begged him to do nothing rash, but he seemed not to hear me. With the squeal of a fighting stallion, he rushed off to the servants' quarters, whence presently there came heartrending shrieks

confusion, regarded as a tribute

cene is quite unworthy of your dignity. I will

iring freely, mopping his brown face with a crimson hand

very one of them confessed that he alone, and not another, was the

nour's will?' he asked. 'I will beat anyone. The story is so bad for th

rather than that harmless folk should suffer for my carelessness. Rash?d protested, saying twelve pounds w

the will of Allah. Let it

n from saying any word to Cook or Baedeker to bring ill-fame and ruin on the place? Our Lord augm

d remonstrated. 'A crime has been c

en the police, with the result that they would torture-perhaps hang-a man or two, but not the man who stole your be

minute,'

, I thought it better to be present at the interview, lest he should

t, asking our way at intervals, until at last we entered a large whitewashed room where soldiers loit

he first thing to be done is to survey the scene o

ho stepped forward and saluted,

his business,' he assured me, bowing with

in compassion for me. He said it was the worst case he had ever heard of-to rob a man so manif

bed, which he unmade completely, he spent some minutes in debating whether the thief had entered by the window or the door. Having at last decided for the door, he turned to me and asked if there was anybody I suspected. When I answe

im for such business. I will send

when a sleek personage in gorgeous robes was brought to me. He had a trick of loo

iscovered many thieves. I think it likely that I know the very man. I will disguise myself as an old woman or a begging dervish. Th

or the thief. He stayed a long while, wheedling and remonstrating, depicting his own subtlety in glowin

presently and asked if I had seen the great detect

ng, but I feel it in their bearing towards me. And now you give u

. I was thinking what could possibly be done to clear Rash?d, when a familiar figure came into the court and strolled towards us. It was Suleyman! I had imagined h

eration, and shook his head a

man for your purpose is the Chief of

there then a gu

ere

be the greatest rogue. I do no

o be who strive for gain; but as a member of a corporation he has pride and honour. With Europeans, it is just the opposite. They individually are more honoura

is the best of men!'

ad caught the thief. The host and all his family ran out into the hall. Rash?d and all the servants came fro

demeanour had

house, and found it on me. They would not hear reason. The man who stole the be

disappointed

ow all that?' inq

the Thieves in

soldier nodded. 'He is a man of h

derstand these thing