I gathered that they expected a proportionate percentage of the bribe for which Suliman ben Saoud was supposed to be maneuvering.
But even Abdul Ali, with a pouch of paper money in his hand, was not quite so barefaced as to bribe the Ichwan publicly.

At the end of five minutes he suggested a private talk on the parapet.
Suliman ben Saoud rose with apparent reluctance.

Abdul Ali of Damascus took his arm.

It was Suliman ben Saoud who opened the narrow door, and Abdul Ali who went through first.

I did not wait for any invitation, but let my snoring neighbor fall on his side, hurried through after them, and closed the door behind me.
Groping for the stick in the dark, I jammed it into the notches.
It fitted perfectly.