"I haven't got it! I swear I haven't!"

"I know that already, for I searched you. Where is it?"

"Ask Allah! It was stolen by a Sikh, who delivered it to someone in a
house near the military hospital, who in turn gave it to an Arab, who
brought it here. I hoped that fellow Charkian might steal it back
again, but you have spoiled everything. Charkian will turn against me
now to save himself. What do you want with the letter?"

"I must have it!" Grim answered. "The French agent--"

"What--Sidi Said? You know him?"

"Surely. He would pay me a thousand pounds for it."

"May Allah change his face! He only offered me five hundred!"

"You have seen him already, then?" Grim asked. "I don't believe you!
When did you see him?"

"On the way up here. He stopped my cab to speak to me at the foot of
the hill."

I began to see the drift of Grim's purpose. He had established the fact
that the French secret agent was already on the track of the letter, and
that in turn explained why he had not seized Yussuf Dakmar and put him
in jail. It was better to use the man, as the sequel proved. And
Yussuf Dakmar walked straight into Grim's trap.