Once more Kaid laid a gentle hand upon Nahoum's beard.

Then, with a gesture towards the consuls and Europeans, he said to them in French: "If I might but beg your presence for yet a little time!" Then he turned and walked away.

He left by a door leading to his own apartments.
When he had gone, Nahoum swung slowly round and faced the agitated groups.
"He who sleeps with one eye open sees the sun rise first," he said, with a sarcastic laugh.

"He who goes blindfold never sees it set." Then, with a complacent look upon them all, he slowly left the room by the door out of which David and Kaid had first passed.
Outside the room his face did not change.

His manner had not been bravado.