"Or have you any sort of introduction or credentials to me ?" He made a sign which I immediately recognised.

Caution, however, was imposed by the law to which that sign appealed.
"You can read," I said, "by starlight ?" "Better than by any other," he rejoined with a smile.
One or two more tokens interchanged left me no doubt that the claim was genuine, and, of course, irresistible.
"Enough," I replied.

"You may take entire charge on the usual terms, which, doubtless, you know better than I." "You trust me then, absolutely ?" he said, in a tone of some little surprise.
"In trusting you," I replied, "I trust the Zinta.

I am tolerably sure to be safe in hands recommended by them." "You are right," he said, "and how right this will prove to you," and he placed in my hand a small cake upon which was stamped an impression of the signet that I had seen on Esmo's wrist.

When he saw that I recognised it, he took it back, and, breaking it into fragments, chewed and swallowed it.
"This," he said, "was given me to avouch the following message:--Our Chiefs are informed that the Order is threatened with a novel danger.
Systematic persecution by open force or by law has been attempted and defeated ages ago, and will hardly be tried again.