Would his strength, his knowledge, his skill, be equal to the enterprise?
Would he emerge safe and successful, or be carried away by some strong undercurrent, be battered on unseen rocks?
He turned with a calm face to the door behind which sat the displaced favourite of the Prince, his mind at rest, the trouble gone out of his eyes.
"Uncle Benn! Uncle Benn!" he said to himself, with a warmth at his heart as he opened the door and stepped inside.
Nahoum sat sipping coffee.

A cigarette was between his fingers.

He touched his hand to his forehead and his breast as David closed the door and hung his hat upon a nail.

David's servant, Mahommed Hassan, whom he had had since first he came to Egypt, was gliding from the room--a large, square-shouldered fellow of over six feet, dressed in a plain blue yelek, but on his head the green turban of one who had done a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Nahoum waved a hand after Mahommed and said: "Whence came thy servant sadat ?" "He was my guide to Cairo.