I stowed it away under my shirt.
"Come, now give me the letter." I took utterly no notice, so he turned his attention to Suliman again, and resumed in Arabic.
"Feel in his pocket and find the letter." "I'm afraid," the boy answered.
"Of what?
Of him?
I will protect you.

Take the letter from him." Suliman chose to play the small boy, as he could very well indeed when nothing could be gained by being devilish and ultra-grown- up.

He shook his head and grinned sheepishly.
"Has he any weapons ?" was the next question.
"Ma indi khabar." [I don't know.] Evidently assault and battery was to be the next item on the program.

He had not the eyes or the general air of a man who will part with ten piastres for nothing.

He called to Yussuf, who came hurrying out of the scullery place.