Now
it's got to be war. You've made it so. It's a pity, for when we grip
there'll be a heavy fall."
"For a poor man thou hast a proud stomach."
"Well, I'll admit the stomach, pasha. It's proud; and it's strong, too;
it's stood a lot in Egypt; it's standing a lot to-day."
"We'll ease the strain, perhaps," sneered Nahoum. He made a perfunctory
salutation and walked briskly from the room.
Mahommed Hassan crept in, a malicious grin on his face. Danger and
conflict were as meat and drink to him.
"Effendi, God hath given thee a wasp's sting to thy tongue. It is well.
Nahoum Pasha hath Mizraim: the Saadat hath thee and me."
"There's the Effendina," said Lacey reflectively. "Thou saidst thou would
'square' him, effendi."
"I say a lot," answered Lacey rather ruefully. "Come, Mahommed, the
Saadat first, and the sooner the better."
CHAPTER XXXI
THE STRUGGLE IN THE DESERT
"And His mercy is on them that fear Him throughout all generations."
On the clear, still evening air the words rang out over the desert,
sonorous, imposing, peaceful.
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