"In that you are perfectly right," answered Jeremy. "He is not at all
the sort of man for you to trust. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that
he has warned Ramsden against you already! Better beware of him!"

According to Jeremy's account of the conversation afterward, it was not
until that moment that he saw clearly how to prevent Yussuf Dakmar from
calling in thugs to attack me either at Haifa or at some point between
there and Damascus. Until then he had been feeling his way along--
"spieling," as he calls it--keeping his man interested while he made all
ready for the next trick.

"To tell you the truth," he went on, "Omar isn't that fellow's real
name. He is a sharp one, and he is after the letter every bit as much
as you are."

"How do you know that?"

"Wallah, how not? because he himself told me! just like you, he tried
to get me into partnership. He offered me a big reward, but he's not
like you, so I didn't believe him; and he has no daughter; I've no use
for a man who hasn't a good-looking daughter. What he's afraid of is
that someone else may get the letter first. And he's a desperate
fellow. He told me his intentions and whether you believe me or not,
they're worthy of a wolf!"

"I'm glad I resolved to take you into my confidence," said Yussuf
Dakmar, nodding. "Go on; I'm listening. Tell me what he told you."

"He plans to get hold of the letter between Haifa and Damascus. He