“I suppose they saw the point of that, sahib, for they changed their tone without, however, becoming friendly to Yussuf Dakmar.  Thieves of that sort know one another, and trust none, and it is all a lie, sahib, about there being any honor among them.  Fear is the only tie that binds thieves, and they proceeded to make Yussuf Dakmar afraid.

“There seems to be one among them, sahib, who is leader.  He has a thin voice like a eunuch’s, and unlike the others swears seldom.

“This father of a thin voice accepted the situation.  He said:  “’Well and good.  Let Yussuf Dakmar do the hunting for us.  It is sufficient that we hunt Yussuf Dakmar.  Two of us occupy the room next to Ramsden’s.  If Yussuf Dakmar needs aid in the night, let him summon us by scratching with his nails on the closet door.  The rest will be simple.  There are four in this besides us five; so if we count Yussuf Dakmar that makes ten who share the reward.  Shall Yussuf Dakmar grow fat, while nine of us starve?  I think not!  Let him get the letter, and give it to me.  We will hide it, and I will deal with the French.  If he fails tonight, let him try again tomorrow on the train.  But we five will also take that train to Damascus, and unless that letter is in my hands before the journey’s end, then Yussuf Dakmar dies.  Is that agreed?’

“All except Yussuf Dakmar agreed to it.  He was very angry and called them leeches, whereat they laughed, saying that leeches only suck enough and then fall off, whereas they would take all or kill.  They made him understand it, taking a great oath together to slay him without mercy unless he should get the letter and give it to them before the train reaches Damascus tomorrow evening.

“Well, sahib, he agreed presently, not with any effort at good grace, but cursing while he yielded.

“In truth, sahib, it is less fear than lack of sleep that Yussuf Dakmar feels.  I could hear him yawn through the window lattice.  Now a man in that condition is likely to act early in the night for fear that sleep may otherwise get the better of him, and the sahib will do well to be keenly alert from the first.  I shall be asleep on that couch outside the door and will come if called, so the sahib would better not lock the door but should call loud in case of need, because I also have been long awake and may sleep heavily.”

“Suppose I walk the streets all night?” said I.  “Wouldn’t that foil them?”

“Nay, sahib, but the reverse; for if Yussuf Dakmar should miss you after midnight he would go in search of you, with those five in turn tracking him.  And as for finding you, that would be a simple matter, for every night thief and beggar waiting for the dawn would give attention to such a big man as you and would report your movements.  All six would come on you in the dark and would kill you surely.  Then, as if that were not bad enough, having searched you they would learn that the letter in your possession is not the right one; and the trail of the right one would be that much easier to detect.”