a true tale in the ears of criminals acts like a chemical reagent. It
sets them to work lying, and the lie burns off, disclosing naked truth
again. But, mother of me, they were daring liars! The fellow who had
come out of the scrap more or less unscathed piped up for the three, the
other two nodding and prompting him in whispers.

"What that Indian says in the main is true. He did jump down from the
gallery and surprise a meeting summoned by Yussuf Dakmar. And it is
true that Yussuf Dakmar's purpose is to bring about a massacre of Jews,
which is to be simultaneous with an attack by Feisul's forces on the
French in Syria. But we three men are not in favour of it. We have had
no part in the preparations, although we know all details. We are
honest men, who have the public interest at heart, and accordingly we
have spied on Yussuf Dakmar, purposing to expose all his plans to the
authorities."

Jeremy began humming to himself. Mabel tittered, and little Doctor
Ticknor swore under his breath. But Grim looked as if he believed them
--looked pleasantly surprised--and nodded gravely.

"But that hardly explains your following this Indian through the streets
and attacking him on the veranda," he suggested, as if sure they could
explain that too--as sure enough they did.

"We did not attack him. He attacked us. It was obvious to us from the
first that he must be an agent of the Government. So when Yussuf Dakmar
told us to follow and murder him we decided it was time to expose Yussuf
Dakmar, and that this was our opportunity. We knew surely that this
Indian would take that letter straight to some official of the
Government; it was only necessary to pretend to hunt him and in that