"Yes," Grim agreed. "But perhaps it will be as well to have an
accomplice after all, and you will do as well as any. If I steal the
letter they may accuse me; but if I can pass it to you, then I can
submit to a search and oblige them to apologize."

"True! True! That will be excellent."

"So you had better take the morning train for Damascus," Grim continued.
"But understand: If you bring others with you I shall suspect you of
intending to play a trick on me. In that event I shall shoot you with
your own pistol, and take my chance of escaping afterward. In fact, you
are a dead man, Yussuf Dakmar, the minute I suspect you of playing me
false."

"The same to you likewise!" Yussuf Dakmar answered fervently.

"Then we understand each other," said Grim. "The best thing you can do
between now and train-time is to see the French agent again."

"What good will that do? He is irritable--nervous; he will only ask a
thousand questions."

"Then your visit will do all the more good. You can calm him. We don't
want a horde of fools interfering with us on the journey. We want to
work quietly, and to share the reward between us. Therefore, you should
tell him that you are confident of getting the letter if he will only
leave the business to you alone. Give him every assurance, and explain
to him that interference may mean failure. Now, I have done much the
greater part so far; let this be your share to balance the account