"I saw his Highness put his life in danger once to save a dog from drowning.

To cherish the lives of others, and to be careless of our own; to give that of great value as though it were of no worth--is it not the Great Lesson ?" He said it with such an air of sincerity, with such dissimulation, that, for the moment, David was deceived.

There was, however, on the face of the listening Kaid a curious, cynical smile.

He had heard all, and he knew the sardonic meaning behind Nahoum's words.
Fat High Pasha, the Chief Chamberlain, the corrupt and corruptible, intervened.

"It is not so hard to be careless when care would be useless," he said, with a chuckle.