I am helpless--here on suffrance--obliged by idiotic regulations to sit in idleness.

But if I could find a British officer with brains--surely there must be one somewhere! -- one with some authority, who is considered above suspicion, I could show him, perhaps, how to get rich without committing any crime he need feel ashamed of." I could not see Grim's eyes from where I sat, and he did not make any nervous movement that could have given him away.

Yet I was conscious of a new alertness, and I think Scharnhoff detected it, too, for he changed his tactics on the instant.
"Hah! Hah! I was joking! Nobody who is fool enough to be a professional soldier would be clever enough to find the Tomb of the Kings and keep the secret for ten minutes! Hah! Hah! But I have a favour I would like to beg of you, Major Grim." "I've no particular authority, you know." "Ach! The Administrator listens to you; I am assured of that." "He listens sometimes, yes, then usually does the other thing.
Well, what's the request ?" "A simple one.

There is a risk--not much, but just a little risk that some fool might stumble on that secret of the Tomb of the Kings and get away with the treasure.

Now, did you ever set a thief to catch a thief?
Hah! Hah! I would be a better watch-dog than any you could find.