"
Suddenly Mahommed Hassan leaned forward, then backward, and, after the
fashion of desert folk, gave a shrill, sweet ululation that seemed to
fill the palace.
"Say, that's A1," Lacey said, when Mahommed's voice sank to a whisper of
wild harmony. "Yes, you can lick my boots, my noble sheikh of Manfaloot,"
he added, as Mahommed caught his feet and bent his head upon them. "I
wanted to do something like that myself. Kiss 'em, honey; it'll do you
good."
After a moment, Mahommed drew back and squatted before him in an attitude
of peace and satisfaction. "The Saadat--you will help him? You will give
him money?"
"Let's put it in this way, Mahommed: I'll invest in an expedition out of
which I expect to get something worth while--concessions for mines and
railways, et cetera." He winked a round, blue eye. "Business is business,
and the way to get at the Saadat is to talk business; but you can make up
your mind that,
"'To-morrow, we are pulling stakes for Shendy!
Are you coming to my party, O Nahoum?'"
"By the prophet Abraham, but the news is great news," said Mahommed with
a grin.
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