“I think you will be getting full value.  I shall introduce you to all the notables,” he said at last.  “To a man of your temperament it will be a privilege to attend the council, and to know in advance all that is going to happen.  There will be no objection to that, because it is already decided you will remain in El-Kerak until after the—­er—­raid.  The notables will understand from me that your mouth is sealed until after the event.  You shall be let into our secrets.  There—­is that not equitable?”

It was shrewd.  I did not believe for a minute that he would let me into all their secrets, but he could not have imagined a greater temptation for me.  Since I would not have taken his word that black was not white, I did not hesitate to pretend to agree to his terms.

“I must have an interpreter,” I said.  “Otherwise I shall understand very little.”

“I will supply you an interpreter—­a good one.”

“No, thank you.  Any man of yours might only tell me what he thought correct for me to hear.  If I’m to get a price for my services, I want the full price.  I want to hear everything.  I must be allowed to bring my own interpreter.”

“Who would he be?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“That man Ahmed, for instance?  I have been told he is one of your party.  Ahmed would do very well.”

“No, not Ahmed.”

“Who then?”

“I will find a man.”

He hesitated.  If ever a man was reviewing all the possible contingencies, murder of me included, behind a mask of superficial courtesy, that man was he.

“He should be a man acceptable to the notables,” he said at last.  “I ought to know his name in advance.”

“I must have unfettered choice, or I won’t attend the mejlis.” [Council]

“Oh, very well.  Only the interpreter, too, will have to remain afterward in El-Kerak.”

I looked at that curtain again, for it was moving in a way that no draft from the open window could account for.  But at last the movement was explained.  Before Abdul Ali could speak again a man stepped out from behind it, crossed the room, and went out through the door, closing it silently behind him.  He was a man I knew, and the last man I had expected to see in that place.  I suppose Abdul Ali noticed my look of surprise.

“You know him?” he asked.

“By sight.  He was at Sheikh ben Nazir’s house yesterday.”

“That is Suliman ben Saoud, a stranger from Arabia, but a man of great influence because of his connection with the Ichwan movement.  If you are interested in our types that man will repay study.”

“Good.  I’ll try to study him,” said I.

It was all I could do to keep a straight face.  So Jimgrim was the source of Abdul Ali’s inspirations!  I wondered what subtle argument he could have used to make the sheikh so keen on baiting his hook with the school proposal.  His nerve, in waiting behind that curtain until he knew his scheme had succeeded, and then walking out bold as brass to let me know that he had overheard everything, was what amused me.  But I managed not to smile.