Thy compact with me is a compact
with England, and it shall be kept, if thou art an honest man. Thou mayst
find thousands in Egypt who will serve thee at any price, and bear thee
in any mood. I have but one price. It is well known to thee. I will not
be the target for thy black temper. This is not the middle ages; I am an
Englishman, not a helot. The bond must be kept; thou shalt not play fast
and loose. Money must be found; the expedition must go. But if thy
purpose is now Harrik's purpose, then Europe should know, and Egypt also
should know. I have been thy right hand, Effendina; I will not be thy old
shoe, to be cast aside at thy will."
In all the days of his life David had never flamed out as he did now.
Passionate as his words were, his manner was strangely quiet, but his
white and glistening face and his burning eyes showed how deep was his
anger.
As he spoke, Kaid sank upon the divan. Never had he been challenged so.
With his own people he had ever been used to cringing and abasement, and
he had played the tyrant, and struck hard and cruelly, and he had been
feared; but here, behind David's courteous attitude, there was a scathing
arraignment of his conduct which took no count of consequence.
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