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e him。〃
〃But you said your father didn't suspect you；〃 Ramses protested。
〃He was beginning to。 That is what Ismail Pasha told me。〃
〃Ah；〃 I said。 〃So he offered to help you。〃
Her forehead wrinkled。 〃I think that is how it was。 But I did most of it myself。 I had to find my own way out of the house。 That was not so hard； I know all the secret passages and cellars； but then I had to go to the place he told me about； the tomb of a saint that is outside the wall of the Serai。 It is not far； but I was very frightened； and I had to wait a long time before the rug merchant came with his cart； and then he was stopped at the guard post and I could hear them talking and laughing and I was afraid they would search the cart。 But they did not。 It was a long bumpy ride and I could not breathe very well； and …〃
〃You were very courageous；〃 I interrupted； for I had heard enough。 The essentials of the story had been told。 It sounded as if Ramses had been correct about Sethos's devious methods。
The various schemes I had proposed kept us busy all day。 Selim spent a good deal of the time underneath the motorcar； surrounded by a fascinated audience； including the babies and the goats。 From time to time he emerged； sweating and oil…stained； to report progress and bask in the admiration of the beholders。 We could have got the petrol from an independent businessman … there was a thriving black market on all military items … but Emerson decided that we might just as well ask the authorities for it。 It required only four hours for his request to be approved。 Clearly； they were anxious to be rid of us。
By evening our plans had been pleted。 I had whiled away the hours exploring the rest of the house。 It was like many others I had visited； with nothing of particular interest except for even more secret passages and hidden chambers than usual。 Mahmud or one of his ancestors appeared to have had little faith in his government； his associates； and his wives。
According to Ramses； we should allow at least an hour to reach the spot Sethos had indicated。 When we gathered in the ka'ah for a light evening repast； we discussed who should go。 Naturally I intended to make one of the party； and Emerson was set on confronting his infuriating brother。 Someone had to stay with the girl； we all agreed to that … Nefret with a caustic 〃I'm always the one〃 … but Selim and Ramses could not decide which of them should go and which should remain with the two young women。 It lacked half an hour till the time we were to leave； and we were still discussing the matter； when a horrible； ululating howl broke the silence of the quiet night。 The mashrabiya screen was ajar and I heard the words quite clearly：
〃O unbelievers； prepare for death！ O ye unrighteous； who walk in darkness pursued by afrits and 。 。 。〃 The speech ended in an anticlimactic squawk。
In a body we rushed to the window and flung the screen open。 In the moonlight I saw a dark mass huddled outside the gate； and Selim； his shoulder braced against it。 Realizing they had been discovered； the invaders began battering at the gate。
I tried； too late； to catch hold of Ramses； who had climbed over the sill。 He dropped to the ground and reached Selim as the gate gave way。 Selim's knife flashed。 Ramses had snatched up a lever or spanner as he ran past the motorcar； he swung his arm； and a scream from one of the attackers wavered into silence。
〃Quick！〃 Emerson exclaimed。 〃Out the bab…sirr； all of you。〃
〃Be damned to that！〃 I shrieked； for my blood was up。 〃 'Now who will stand on either hand； And keep the bridge with … ' 〃
〃Me；〃 said Emerson。 〃Curse it； Peabody； get the girls out of here。 You know what to do。〃
He was already halfway out the window； lowering himself by one hand。
The fighting instincts of the Peabodys were not easily controlled； but the confidence he had placed in me enabled me to master them。 I expected some objection from Nefret； but she made none。 Pausing only long enough to collect the bundles we had packed earlier； we fled down the stairs and through the rooms of the ground floor toward the small chamber that contained the secret door。 Esin had spoken only once： 〃Is it my father？〃
〃I don't know。 Be quiet and hurry。〃
The house was deserted。 The servants who lived in had run away or were in hiding。 One could hardly blame them for refusing to bee involved in the affairs of strangers。 No doubt the local authorities； such as they were； felt the same。 I hoped the uproar at the gate would attract the attention of the military police； but by the time they arrived it might be too late。
Nefret had not spoken at all。 We both had our torches； she held the light steady while I searched for the catch Emerson had shown me。 It was stiff with disuse； but finally it yielded。 The panel swung open； and we all crowded into the space beyond。 The passage went through the thick wall of the house。 It was ten feet long and less than two feet wide； we had to go single…file； our bundles bumping against the walls。 At the end was a wooden door。 It was not bolted or locked； one simply pressed a handle to release the latch； which was presumably less visible from the other side。
I did not know what lay beyond that door。 This was as far as I had gone with Emerson。
〃Go ahead；〃 Nefret whispered。 〃What are you waiting for？〃
Her face gleamed with perspiration。 Esin's eyes were wide with terror and her breath came in short gasps。 I was as anxious as they to get out of that cramped place； it was like standing in an upright coffin； with dust clogging the nostrils and a strange； sour smell。 Many generations of rodents must have lived and died in that passage； their bones had crunched under our feet as we walked。
〃I am waiting for the men to join us；〃 I replied。 〃We cannot take the risk of being separated。 Since I do not know whether they will follow us through the bab…sirr or e round to the back； we had better remain where we are。 Put out the torch； Nefret。 I expect they will be along shortly。〃
My confidence was not assumed。 With the aid of Emerson's strength； they should be able to close and barricade the gate and beat a strategic retreat。 However； it is difficult to estimate time in the dark； we waited； breathing with difficulty； for what seemed like hours； before hinges creaked and a square of paler darkness opened before me。
〃Don't shoot；〃 said a familiar voice。
I tucked my pistol back into my pocket。 〃I couldn't be sure it was you；〃 I explained。 〃Are Ramses and Selim …〃
〃All present and accounted for；〃 said Ramses breathlessly。 〃We can't stay here； they'll be looking for us。 Let's go。〃
〃Where？〃 I demanded； squeezing through a narrow aperture and a curtain of thorny vines。
〃We have an appointment at midnight； I believe。 I am all the more anxious now to hear what the 。 。 。 fellow has to say。 Damn these cactuses；〃 Emerson added。
They formed a hedge a few feet away。 The wall of the house rose sheer and windowless behind us。 Nefret and Esin followed me out and Emerson closed the panel； which was of wood painted to resemble the plastered surface of which it formed a part。
〃Lead on；〃 I said。
The narrow lane into which we had emerged led back to the square； but it was