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Show "With a stranger? What difference does that make?" "A rich stranger would not be safe at night in the desert. I am poor. I have nothing-nothing." He flung out his arms in a large, despairing gesture, keeping his one eye fixed steadily on Sir Claude. "Therefore, I can go where I will. If monsieur wishes me to return to-night to ElAkbara, to take a message to madame, I will go, though the mules are tired. if monsieur asks me to accomhim, I dare not. For if an evil came to monsieur in my comno rich stranger would take as guide any more. I should be I should fall into the misery." guide's assertions seemed reaBut Sir Claude rememthe landlady's words, that would do anything for a few "And what if I paid you well?" he said. "What if I gave you a hundred francs?" "Monsieur says-?" "Suppose I gave you a hundred francs to come with me now, tonight, back to El-Akbara! Wouldn't you come?" "Monsieur, I dare not be responsible. If any harm-" "What-has Benchaalal paid you more, then?" exclaimed Sir Claude. He scarcely knew why he said it, why the ugly, the hideous surmise abruptly started into his mind. In- 1 deed, it was only a wild guess that he was making, moved by something uneasy in Achmed's obstinacy, some-1 thing that suddenly suggested to Sir 1 Claude that the Arab was balancing two offers, or was comparing the merits of two clients-testing, as it were, the capacities of their respective purses. Sir Claude did not often 99 |
