Chapter VI: Part 6

"'You have trampled on me,' I continued, 'you have insulted me; you have inflicted shameful indignities on me. But no man with impunity treats Jean Antoine Stromboli Kosnapulski thus; and now my hour has come.'

"A menace was rising to his lips; but I had only to hold the mirror once more before him to subdue him. As I have said, his self-confidence forsook him when he saw how ridiculous he looked. I continued--

"'You have made me speak to you humbly as a pupil to his master--as a sinner to a saint. But that is over now. I have treated you with ignominy, even as you treated me; and now that account is squared between us, I speak to you as man to man.'

"'Dog of a--' he began; but once more I held the mirror to him, and he changed his tone, and merely asked--

"'What would you have with me, then?'

"'Listen,' I replied. 'I know well that you have but to speak the word to have me slain. But I know also--and you, too, know--that, if you speak that word, the reputation of Senussi-el-Mahdi is for ever lost. Think of it, then! A Mahdi with half a beard and half a head of hair, and a waxed moustache like a Hungarian hussar's! The thing is too ridiculous! It could not be.'

"And once more I emphasised my criticisms with the mirror; and he looked at me with impotent rage, and did not speak.

"'Listen,' I continued. 'You can keep your holy reputation only if you hide your shame by veiling yourself until your beard has grown again; you may even acquire an added holiness. Who knows? But you can only keep your secret if you let me depart from Jarabub in peace. What say you, Holy Man?'

"He still seemed to hesitate; but this time I had merely to point to the mirror to decide him.

"'Depart in peace,' he said.

"'But I shall need guides and an escort,' I replied.

"'You shall have them.'

"'And a letter of safe conduct. Take your pen and write.'

"I put the materials before him, and he wrote at my dictation:--

"'_Senussi-el-Mahdi to all whom it may concern. Greeting--_

"'_Jean Antoine Stromboli Kosnapulski, the stranger within my gates, goeth on a high errand for me to Cairo. Let him have guides and camels. Let him start at once. Protect him and speed him on his way._'

"'Good,' I said; but then I remembered something else.

"There were his trances, and the murderous messages that he might send in them. Against that risk also I must make provision. So I made him add--

"'_Take warning, also, that there is a certain false prophet, an enemy of the stranger, who sendeth messages in my name. Haply he will send false messages compassing the stranger's death. Know, therefore, that such messages come not from me; and slay any man who seeks to harm one hair of the stranger's head. And in the meantime, let none disturb me for two days_.'

"'Now sign it,' I said. And Senussi-el-Mahdi signed; and having gained my end, I once more treated him with courtesy and consideration.

"'Farewell,' I said. 'May Allah make your hair and beard grow quickly! For your hospitality--such as it was--I thank you. Rest assured that I shall guard at least one pleasant recollection of my sojourn here.'

"With that I bowed several times, and walking backwards respectfully, gradually left the room.

"And so--as I had no trouble in the desert--my adventure ended happily.

"My fee, indeed, is still unpaid; but I have not ceased to hope for it. Even now the Sect of the Senussi agitates and causes trouble; and many Irish members, having made wealthy marriages, are in a position to recompense, with interest on the over-due account, the service rendered them by Jean Antoine Stromboli Kosnapulski."

THE END.

WARD, LOCK & Co., LTD., LONDON, NEW YORK, & MELBOURNE.