the latter's men, responding to a glance, moved down also. Kingsley saw,
but gave no heed.

"What's up, Pasha?" he asked in a low voice. "The Khedive commands your
return to Cairo."

"With you?"

"So, effendi."

"Compulsion, eh? I don't see quite. I'm an Englishman, not a fellah."

"But I have my commands, saadat el bey."

"What's the row, Pasha?"

"Is it for the servant to know the mind of his master?"

"And if I don't go?"

The Pasha pointed to his men, and motioned towards the boat where forty
or fifty others showed. "Bosh, Pasha! That's no reason. That's
flummery, and you know and the Highness knows it. That would have been
all very well in the desert, but this is not the desert, and I'm not
doing business with the Highness any more. What's the penalty if I don't
go?"

"Twenty men will lose their heads to-morrow morning, a riot will occur,
the bank where much gold is will be broken into, some one will be made
poor, and--"