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〃Grammar； young man；〃 I said。 〃It is indeed we。 Let us pass； if you please。〃
Selim went at once to his beloved motorcar。 〃They have stolen two of the tires！〃 he cried in anguished tones。
〃That's easily remedied；〃 said Emerson； helping me to dismount。 〃e along； Selim； you can play with the motorcar later。〃
A quick inspection assured us that the house was deserted and that a good many items were missing； including the best part of 〃the favorite's〃 elegant wardrobe。 〃Can't be helped；〃 said Emerson。 〃Lucky we had everything we needed with us。 Let us go to the mak'ad。 I expect we will be receiving a visit soon。〃
〃Yes； our arrival will have been reported；〃 I agreed。 〃Esin； I want you to stay here in the harem。〃
〃Why？〃 she demanded。
〃You are an enemy alien；〃 Nefret said。 〃If the soldiers find out you are here； they will take you away。〃
I hadn't intended to be quite so blunt about it； but the warning had the desired effect。 Esin's rounded cheeks paled。
〃We won't let them take you；〃 Ramses said quickly。 〃Just stay out of sight and keep quiet。〃
〃I would very much like a bath；〃 I said。 〃But that will have to wait until we round up a few of the servants。 In the meantime； what about a nice hot cup of tea？〃
The inefficiency of the military was disappointing。 It took them an hour to react to the news that we had returned。 The open arches of the mak'ad constituted an excellent observation post； we were sipping a second cup of tea when he burst into the courtyard； kicked an unfortunate chicken out of his path； and came to a stop； staring。 Emerson leaned over the rail and called to him。
〃Up here； Cartright。 Join us。〃
〃We ought to have expected it would be he；〃 I remarked。 〃He appears to be in quite an unhappy frame of mind。〃
Cartright took the stairs two at a time。 His face was flushed and his mustache looked as if he had been chewing on it。
〃You're here；〃 he gasped。 〃All of you。〃
〃Obviously；〃 I replied。 〃Nefret； is there more hot water？ I believe Major Cartright could do with a cup of tea。 Do sit down； Major。〃
The young man collapsed onto a chair and passed a handkerchief over his face。 〃Where have you been？ We've been searching for days。〃
〃Not that long； surely；〃 I said。 〃Drink your tea。 We have decided to take advantage of your kind offer to facilitate our return to Cairo。 We will need petrol； water； food； and two new tires。 Is there anything else； Emerson？〃
Leaning against the wall； arms folded and lips twitching； Emerson shook his head。 〃Not that I know of。 Continue； Peabody； you seem to have the situation well in hand。〃
〃We would like to leave tomorrow morning；〃 I explained。 〃You seem to have frightened our servants away。 Persuade … persuade； I said … them to return。 We have clothing to be washed and meals to be prepared。〃
〃Mrs。 Emerson 。 。 。 please。〃 Cartright waved away the cup I had offered。 〃Just stop talking； will you？ Professor； I want to know where the devil …〃
〃Language； language；〃 said Emerson。 〃There are ladies present。 As for answering your questions； sir； I am not subject to your orders。〃
〃General Chetwode …〃
〃Nor his。 I will report to whom I see fit and when I see fit。 In Cairo； to be precise。 Are you going to get us the supplies we need or must I go over your head？〃
〃I 。 。 。 yes。 That is； I will get them。 And go with you。〃
〃There won't be room in the motorcar；〃 said Emerson with finality。 〃Oh … I almost forgot。 The horses。 Fine animals。 They are in the stable。〃
Cartright sat bolt upright。 〃Then it was you who 。 。 。 One of the troopers swore there was a woman in the party； but …〃
〃Me；〃 said Nefret with a smile。 〃The poor boy wants his Mary back； I expect。 Tell him she has been well cared for and that I thank him for the loan。〃
〃That is all you have to say？〃 His frowning visage turned from Nefret to Emerson。
〃It is all any of us have to say；〃 Emerson assured him。 〃When may we expect those supplies？〃
Major Cartright's countenance underwent a series of contortions。 He had been sorely tried； but knew perfectly well that any attempt to detain Emerson against his will would result in an uproar that would reverberate through every level of British officialdom。
〃I'm not certain I can obtain everything you need today；〃 he muttered。
〃Oh； I think you can；〃 said Emerson； showing his teeth。
〃Yes； sir。 Then 。 。 。 I will see you in Cairo？〃 He looked at Ramses； who had remained silent。
〃No doubt；〃 said Ramses。
〃You are the one he would like to question；〃 I said； after Cartright had taken his departure。 〃I expect he will go haring off to General Chetwode and demand we be held here。〃
〃Chetwode has no authority to detain us；〃 said Emerson。 He rubbed irritably at the cast； which was looking somewhat the worse for wear。 〃Nefret； can't I have this cursed thing off？〃
〃Not yet； Father。 As soon as we get to Cairo I'll have a look at it。〃
Selim returned from his inspection of the motorcar to report that everything seemed to be in order； and went off to mandeer some household assistance； since I did not suppose Major Cartright would consider that matter worthy of his attention。 It had begun to rain； so we retreated into the room behind the open mak'ad； where we had left our baggage。
〃We may as well unpack our bundles；〃 I said。 〃What with all our ings and goings； I have lost track of precisely what we still have。 I gave my bar of soap to Mustafa； but here is my medical kit and my parasol …〃
〃You won't need that； Mrs。 Emerson。 You will not be leaving the house just yet。〃
I had missed one of the secret rooms。 Unlike the makhba under the floor of the harem； this was a small hidden chamber whose door resembled that of a wall cupboard。 He looked much the same as he had when I had seen him before； a big man with a grizzled beard and shoulders almost as impressive as those of Emerson。 He had a pistol in one hand and a knife in the other。
〃Sahin Pasha； I presume；〃 I said； after a slight catch of breath。 〃We ought to have anticipated that a clever man would prehend the gravity of his predicament and escape before he could be apprehended。 On the run； are you？〃
〃One might call it that。 Now； if you don't mind …〃
〃ing here was also a clever move；〃 I mused。 〃There is a saying that the safest place for a criminal is in the police station。〃
〃Is there？ No； my young friend； don't take another step。 I want all of you close together。〃
Ramses stopped。 〃You daren't use that gun；〃 he said。 〃The sound of a shot will bring the servants and a dozen soldiers。〃
〃If I am forced to fire； there will be more than one shot and by the time your assistants arrive it will be too late for some of you。 There is no need for that。 All I want is my daughter。〃
〃Let us discuss this calmly；〃 I said。 〃How do you propose to get her away from here； against her will； without killing all of us； which is； as you must see； impractical？〃
A rather jolly rumble of laughter emerged from his parted lips。 〃Mrs。 Emerson； it is a pleasure to meet you at last。 I know you are hoping that your fascinating conversation will distract me。 It won't。 But since you ask； I have already dealt with Esin。 She is lying bound and gagged on the divan in the ka'ah。 I found this hi