and suggest to them that the French and British are allies; therefore
the only way to keep the British from helping the French will be to
start red-hot trouble in Palestine that will keep the British busy
protecting themselves and the Jews.

"The secret agents point out that although Feisul is against anything of
the sort, he must be committed to it for his own sake. And they make
great capital out of Feisul's promise that he will protect the Jews if
recognized as king of independent Syria. Kill all the Jews beforehand,
so there won't be any for him to protect when the time comes--that's the
argument."

Mabel interrupted.

"Haven't you warned Feisul?"

She had both elbows on the table and her chin between her hands, and I
dare say she had listened in just that attitude to fifty inside stories
that the newspapers would scatter gold in vain to get.

"I sure did. And he has sent one of his staff down here to keep an eye
on things. I saw him this afternoon riding in a cab toward the Jaffa
Gate. I said as much to that fellow in the hospital, and he was scared
stiff at the idea of my recovering the supposed Feisul letter and
showing it to an officer who is really in Feisul's confidence. That--I
mean the man's fear--linked everything up."

"You talk like Sherlock Holmes," laughed Jeremy. "I'll bet you a new
hat nothing comes of it."