That is all the story, and I hope you will not think that I have acted very foolishly, but I did it for the best.

If you only knew what I have suffered, Alan, what I have gone through in one way and another, I am sure that you would not judge me harshly; also I kept dreaming that you were in trouble and wanted me to come to you, and of course I knew where you were gone and had that map.
Send him away, Alan, for I am still so weak and I cannot bear the sight of his face.

If you knew everything, you would understand." Alan turned on Aylward and in a cold, quiet voice asked him what he had to say to this story.
"I have to say, Major Vernon, that it is a clever mixture of truth and falsehood.

It is true that your cousin, Champers-Haswell, has been proved guilty of some very shameful conduct.

For instance it appears that he did forge, or rather cause to be forged that Firman from the Sultan, although I knew nothing of this until it was publicly repudiated.