And perhaps Scharnhoff couldn't afford to bribe heavily enough; his harem very likely kept him rather short of money.

Then we come along, and stop all excavation--cancel all permits--refuse to grant new ones.
"Scharnhoff's problem is to dig without calling attention to what he's doing.

As a technical enemy alien he can't acquire property, or even rent property without permission.

But with the aid of Suliman's mother he made the acquaintance of our friend Noureddin Ali, who has a friend, who in turn has a brother, who owns a little house in that street below the Haram-es-Sheriff." "Strange coincidence!" said Goodenough.

"It'll need a better argument than that to save Scharnhoff's neck." "Pardon me, sir.