And the British had called them in, giving some ridiculous excuse about danger.

It had remained then for him--Abdul Ali of Damascus and of El-Kerak -- the same individual who was now urging them to strike for their own advantage--to take the first step for the establishment in El-Kerak of a school that should be independent of the British.
He, Abdul Ali, greatly daring because he had the interest of El- Kerak at heart, had introduced that day into the mejlis a distinguished guest from the United States, whose sole desire-- whose only object in life--whose altruistic and divine ambition was to establish an American secular school in El-Kerak! He sat down, glowing with super-virtue.

And then the fur flew.
Anazeh was first on his feet.
"Princes!" he shouted.

"That Damascene is a father of lies! It was I, Anazeh, who brought this man hither! That corrupter of honesty, who doles out other people's gold for bidden purposes, seeks to appear as your benefactor!" (It was fairly obvious that Anazeh had not received any of the gold.) "He will say next that it was he who set the stars in the sky over El-Kerak, and makes the moon rise! He is a foreigner, a father of snakes, and a born liar!" Anazeh refused to sit down again, but stood with rifle on his arm, daring any one to challenge his statements.

Abdul Ali flushed angrily, but laughed aloud.