Encouragement was the proper cue, now that Jeremy had tantalized him with a glimpse of the bait.

We had nothing to fear from him unless he should lose heart.
"The value of a sum lies in the answer," he said, quoting one of those copybook proverbs with which all Syrians love to clinch an argument.
"The letter is in its owner's pocket.

The accuser should now apologize, and we can spend the rest of the journey pleasantly." Jeremy proceeded to apologize: "So you're not such a thief as you looks." Then he provided entertainment.

He drew out the razor and did stunts with it, juggling it with open blade from hand to hand--pretending to drop it and always catching it again within a fraction of an inch of Yussuf Dakmar's person.

By and by he juggled with coins, match-box, cigars, razor and anything he could lay his hands on.
"Mashallah!" exclaimed the Syrian at last, his face all sweaty with excitement as he shrank back to avoid the spinning razor.