No danger threatens me.

I could buy you and Baithopoor to-morrow if I chose.

But I am a just man.

When the prophet, whose name be blessed, saith that we shall have eye for eye, and nose for nose, and for wounding retaliation, he saith also that 'he that remitteth the same as alms it shall be an atonement unto him.' Now your majesty is a hard man, and I well know that if I force you to pay me now you will cruelly tax and oppress your subjects to refill your coffers.
And many of your subjects are true believers, following the prophet, upon whom be peace; and it is also written 'Thou shalt rob a stranger, but thou shalt not rob a brother,'-- and if I cause you to rob my brethren is not the sin mine, and the atonement thereof?
Now also has the lawful interest on your bond mounted up to several lakhs of rupees.
But for the sake of my brethren who are in bondage to you, who are an unbeliever and shall broil everlastingly in raging flames, I will yet make a covenant with you, and the agreement thereof shall be this: "You shall deliver into my hand, before the dark half of the next moon, the man"-- Isaacs lowered his voice to a whisper, barely audible in the still room, where the only sound heard as he paused was the tread of the sowar on the verandah outside-- "the man Shere Ali, formerly Emir of Afghanistan, now hidden in your palace of Baithopoor.

Him you shall give to me safe and untouched at the place which I shall choose, northwards from here, in the pass towards Keitung.