I can spare fifteen minutes." We all took seats together in a far corner of the dingy room, where the Syrian barkeeper could not overhear us.
"My Lord, I am an Englishman!" Coutlass began.

"I am a God-fearing, law-abiding gentleman! I know where to look for the ivory that the Arab villain Tippoo Tib has buried! I know how to smuggle it out of Africa without paying a penny of duty--" "Did you say law-abiding ?" Monty asked.
"Surely! Always! I never break the law! As for instance--in Greece, where I had the honor to be born, the law says no man shall carry a knife or wear one in his belt.

So, since I was a little boy I carry none! I have none in my hand--none at my belt.

I keep it here!" He stooped, raised his right trousers leg, and drew from his Wellington boot a two-edged, pointed thing almost long enough to merit the name of rapier.

He tossed it in the air, let it spin six or seven times end over end, caught it deftly by the point, and returned it to its hiding-place.
"I am a law-abiding man," he said, "but where the law leaves off, I know where to begin! I am no fool!" Monty made up his mind there and then that this man's game would not be worth the candle.
"No, Mr.Coutlass, I can't oblige you," he said.
The Greek half-arose and then sat down again.
"You can not find it without my assistance!" he said, wrinkling his face for emphasis.
"I'm not looking for assistance," said Monty.
"Aha! You play with words! You are not--but you will! I am no fool, my Lord! I understand! Not for nothing did I make a friend again of that pig Hassan! Not for nothing have I waited all these months in this stinking Zanzibar until a man should come in search of that ivory whom I could trust! Not for nothing did Juma, the lazaretto attendant tell Hassan you desired to see him! You seek the ivory, but you wish to keep it all! To share none of it with me!" He stood up, and made another bow, much curter than his former one.