suggestion, which widened the scope of the comedy now being played.
He had had a struggle with Ismail, and his own place and influence had
been in something like real danger, but he had not minded that. He had
suggested that he might be of service to Egypt in London and Paris. That
was very like a threat, but it was veiled by a look of genial innocence
which Ismail admired greatly. He knew that Donovan Pasha could hasten
the crisis coming on him. He did not believe that Donovan Pasha would,
but that did not alter the astuteness and value of the move; and,
besides, it was well to run no foolish risks and take no chances. Also,
he believed in Donovan Pasha's honesty. He despised him in a worldly
kind of way, because he might have been rich and splendid, and he was
poor and unassuming. He wanted Kingsley Bey's fortune, or a great slice
of it, but he wanted it without a struggle with Dicky Donovan, and with
the British Consulate--for that would come, too, directly. It gave him
no security to know that the French would be with him--he knew which
country would win in the end. He was preying on Kingsley Bey's humanity,
and he hoped to make it well worth while. And all he thought and planned
was well understood by Dicky.

Over their coffee they both talked from long distances towards the
point of attack and struggle, Ismail carelessly throwing in glowing
descriptions of the palaces he was building. Dicky never failed to show
illusive interest, and both knew that they were not deceiving the other,
and both came nearer to the issue by devious processes, as though these
processes were inevitable. At last Dicky suddenly changed his manner and
came straight to the naked crisis.

"Highness, I have an invitation for Kingsley Bey to dine at the British
Consulate to-night. You can spare his presence?"