"Then assist me to rid England of what you have called a survival
of the dark ages. I will furnish porters to remove and carry the
safe, if you will deliver to me the key!"

I sprang to my feet.

"That is madness!" I cried. "In the first place I should be
compromising with my conscience, and in the second place I should
be defenceless against those who might--"

"I have with me a written promise from one highly placed--one to
whose will Hassan of Aleppo bows!"

My mind greatly disturbed, I watched the venerable speaker. I had
determined now that he was some religious leader of Islam in
England, who had been deputed to approach me; and, let me add, I
was sorely tempted to accede to his proposal, for nothing would be
gained by any one if the slipper remained for ever at the museum,
whereas by conniving at its recovery by those who, after all, were
its rightful owners I should be ridding England of a weird and
undesirable visitant.

I think I should have agreed, when I remembered that the Hashishin
had murdered Professor Deeping and had mutilated others wholly
innocent of offence. I looked across at the old man. He had drawn
himself up to his great height, and for the first time fully
raising the lids, had fixed upon me the piercing gaze of a pair of
eagle eyes. I started, for the aspect of this majestic figure was
entirely different from that of the old stranger who had stood
suppliant before me a moment ago.