“He seemed to have been waiting for just that, sahib, for he smirked and threw a chest.  ‘I am a man,’ said he, ’of example as well as precept.  I have done what I saw fit to do!  I make no boasts,’ said he, ’for a man who talks about himself sets others talking, and there are deeds creditable to the doer that are best not spoken of.  But I will tell you other things, and you may draw your own conclusions.

“’Because Feisul refuses to attack the French, having promised those promise-breakers that he will not; and because Feisul has promised to protect the Jews and is likely to try to keep that promise to the promise-breaking English, certain of his intimates in Damascus, in whose confidence I am, have determined to force both issues, taking steps in his name that will commit him finally.  Feisul’s army of fifty thousand men is as ready as it will ever be.  There is no money in the Damascus treasury, and therefore every moment of delay is now a moment lost.  The time has come for action!’”

Our three prisoners were listening to the recitation spellbound, and so were we all for that matter.  The mere memory feat was amazing enough.  Few men could listen in hiding to a stranger’s words, and report them exactly after an interval of more than an hour; but Narayan Singh did better than that, for he reproduced the speaker’s gesture and inflexion, so that we had a mental picture of the scene that he described.  Mabel offered him stewed tannic acid in the name of tea, and Ticknor suggested a chair, but he waved both offers aside and continued as if the picture before his mind and the words he was remembering might escape him if he took things easy.

“Sahib, they were very much excited when he spoke of action.  First one man and then another stood up and boasted of having made all things ready; how this one had supervised the hiding of sharp swords; how another had kept men at work collecting cartridges on battlefields; how this and that one had continued spreading talk against the Jews, so that they swore that at least ten thousand Moslems in Jerusalem are fretting to begin a massacre.  ’Let Feisul only strike the first blow from Damascus,’ said they, ‘and Palestine will run blood instantly!’”

“And we sit here drinking tea,” exclaimed Mabel, “while up at headquarters they’re dancing and playing bridge!  I call this awful!  We all ought to be...”

Grim smiled and shook his head for silence.

“We’ve known all this for some time,” he said.  “Don’t worry.  There’ll be no massacre; the troops are sleeping by their arms, and every possible contingency has been provided for.  Go on, Narayan Singh.”

“Well, sahib; when they had done babbling and boasting this Yussuf Dakmar got back on his stool and spoke sternly, as one who gives final judgment and intends to be obeyed.  ’It is we who must make the first move,’ said he; ’and we shall force Feisul to move after us by moving in his name.’  Whereat this man here, whose nose was broken on the fist of Jeremy sahib, said that a letter bearing Feisul’s seal would make the matter easier.  ‘For the men,’ said he, ‘who are to slit Jews’ throats will ask first for proof of our authority to bid them begin the business.’