"Malaish, what does it matter! But he is to escape, and they are to hang
another Christian in his stead for the attempt on Kaid. It hath no skill,
but it would suffice. With the dervishes gone malboos, and the faithful
drunk with piety--canst thou not see the issue, pasha? Blood will be
shed."
"The Jews of Europe would be angry," said Nahoum grimly but evenly. "The
loans have been many, and Kaid has given a lien by the new canal at Suez.
The Jews will be angry," he repeated, "and for every drop of Christian
blood shed there would be a lanced vein here. But that would not bring
back Nahoum Pasha," he continued cynically. "Well, this is thy story,
Mizraim; this is what they would do. Now what hast thou done to stop
their doing?"
"Am I not a Muslim? Shall I give Sharif to the Nile?"
Nahoum smiled darkly. "There is a simpler way. Thy mind ever runs on the
bowstring and the sword. These are great, but there is a greater. It is
the mocking finger. At midnight, when Kaid goes to the Mosque Mahmoud, a
finger will mock the plotters till they are buried in confusion.
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