"Have you a horse?"

He nodded.

"You and your horse, then, two piasters a day, and you feed yourself
and the beast."

The man agreed, very bright-eyed. Often it takes a day or two to
come to terms with natives of that country, yet the terms the consul
offered him were those for a man of very ordinary attainments.

"Come back in an hour," said the consul.

Without a word of answer Kagig vaulted back across the rail and
disappeared around the corner of the house, walking without hurry
but not looking back.

"Kagig, by jove! It would take too long now to tell that story of
the letter to Adrianople. I've no proof, but a private notion that
Kagig is descended from the old Armenian kings. In a certain sort
of tight place there's not a better man in Asia. Now, Lord Montdidier,
if you're in earnest about searching for that castle of your Crusader
ancestors, you're in luck!"

"You know it's what I came here for," said Monty. "These friends
of mine are curious, and I'm determined. Now that Fred's well--"

"I'm puzzled," said the consul, leaning back and looking at us all
with half-closed eyes. "Why should Kagig choose just this time to
guide a hunting party? If any man knows trouble's brewing, I suspect