The Basha listened at first with a look of bewilderment, and some half-dozen armed attendants at the farther end of the room shuffled about in their consternation.  At length Ben Aboo raised his head, and said with an air of mock inquiry, “Ya Allah! who is this infidel?”

Then, changing his tone suddenly, he cried, “Sir, I know who you are!  You come to me on this sham errand about the girl, but that is not your purpose, Mohammed of Mequinez!  Mohammed the Third!  What fool said you were a spy of the Sultan?  Abd er-Rahman is here—­my guest and protector.  You are a spy of his enemies, and a revolutionary, come hither to ruin our religion and our State.  The penalty for such as you is death, and by Allah you shall die!”

Saying this, he so wrought upon his indignation, that in spite of his superstitious fears, and the awe in which he stood of the Mahdi, he half deceived himself, and deceived his attendants entirely.  But the Mahdi took a step nearer and looked straight into his face, and said—­

“Ben Aboo, ask pardon of God; you are a fool.  You talk of putting me to death.  You dare not and you cannot do it.”

“Why not?” cried Ben Aboo, with a thrill of voice that was like a swagger.  “What’s to hinder me?  I could do it at this moment, and no man need know.”

“Basha,” said the Mahdi, “do you think you are talking to a child?  Do you think that when I came here my visit was not known to others than ourselves outside?  Do you think there are not some who are waiting for my return?  And do you think, too,” he cried, lifting one hand and his voice together, “that my Master in heaven would not see and know it on an errand of mercy His servant perished?  Ben Aboo, ask pardon of God, I say; you are a fool.”

The Basha’s face became black and swelled with rage.  But he was cowed.  He hesitated a moment in silence, and then said with an air of braggadocio—­

“And what if I do not liberate the girl?”

“Then,” said the Mahdi, “if any evil befalls her the consequences shall be on your head.”

“What consequences?” said the Basha.

“Worse consequences than you expect or dream,” said the Mahdi.

“What consequences?” said the Basha again.

“No matter,” said the Mahdi.  “You are walking in darkness, and do not know where you are going.”

“What consequences?” the Basha cried once more.

“That is God’s secret,” said the Mahdi.

Ben Aboo began to laugh.  “Light the infidel out of the Kasbah,” he shouted to his people.

“Enough!” cried the Mahdi.  “I have delivered my message.  Now woe to you, Ben Aboo!  A second time I have come to you as a witness, but I will come no more.  Fill up the measure of your iniquity.  Keep the girl in prison.  Give her to the Sultan.  But know that for all these things your reward awaits you.  Your time is near.  You will die with a pale face.  The sword will reach to your soul.”