At last his eyes fastened on Nahoum. He turned to David.
"Thou dost still desire Nahoum in his office?" he asked keenly.
A troubled look came into David's eyes, then it cleared away, and he said
firmly: "For six years we have worked together, Effendina. I am surety
for his loyalty to thee."
"And his loyalty to thee?"
A pained look crossed over David's face again, but he said with a will
that fought all suspicion down: "The years bear witness."
Kaid shrugged his shoulders slightly. "The years have perjured themselves
ere this. Yet, as thou sayest, Nahoum is a Christian," he added, with
irony scarcely veiled.
Now he moved forward with David towards the waiting court. David searched
the groups of faces for Nahoum in vain. There were things to be said to
Nahoum before he left on the morrow, last suggestions to be given. Nahoum
could not be seen.
Nahoum was gone, as were also Sharif and his confederates, and in the
lofty Mosque of Mahmoud soft lights were hovering, while the
Sheikh-el-Islam waited with Koran and scimitar for the ruler of Egypt to
pray to God and salute the Lord Mahomet.
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