"You will pardon me," I said, "but the work is scarcely of a kind--"

He raised his thin hand.

"I am not undertaking it myself. I wished to explain to you the
conditions under which I could arrange to furnish suitable porters."

His patient explanation disposed me to believe that he was merely
some kind of small contractor, and in any event I had nothing to
fear from this frail old man.

"Step in, sir," I said, repenting of my brusquerie--and stood
aside for him.

He entered, with that Oriental meekness in which there is
something majestic. I placed a chair for him in the study, and
reseated myself at the table. The old man, who from the first had
kept his eyes lowered deferentially, turned to me with a gentle
gesture, as if to apologize for opening the conversation.

"From the papers, Mr. Cavanagh," he began, "I have learned of the
circumstances attending the death of Professor Deeping. Your
papers"--he smiled, and I thought I had never seen a smile of
such sweetness--"your papers know all! Now I understand why a
Moslem is required, and I understand what is required of him. But
remembering that the object of his labours would be to place a
holy relic on exhibition for the amusement of unbelievers, can you
reasonably expect to obtain the services of one?"