"If it was all done by an enemy," he said, in answer to Lacey, at last,
"would it all be reasoned out like that? Is hatred so logical? Dost
thou think Claridge Pasha will not go now? The troops are ready at Wady-
Halfa, everything is in order; the last load of equipment has gone. Will
not Claridge Pasha find the money somehow? I will do what I can. My
heart is moved to aid him."

"Yes, you'd do what you could, pasha," Lacey rejoined enigmatically, "but
whether it would set the Saadat on his expedition or not is a question.
But I guess, after all, he's got to go. He willed it so. People may try
to stop him, and they may tear down what he does, but he does at last
what he starts to do, and no one can prevent him--not any one. Yes, he's
going on this expedition; and he'll have the money, too." There was a
strange, abstracted look in his face, as though he saw something which
held him fascinated.

Presently, as if with an effort, he rose to his feet, took the red fez
from his head, and fanned himself with it for a moment. "Don't you
forget it, pasha; the Saadat will win. He can't be beaten, not in a
thousand years. Here he comes."

Nahoum got to his feet, as David came quickly through the small gateway
of the court-yard, his head erect, his lips smiling, his eyes sweeping
the place. He came forward briskly to them. It was plain he had not
heard the evil news.

"Peace be to thee, Saadat, and may thy life be fenced about with safety!"
said Nahoum.