His keen glance seemed, to Gregory, to take him in from head to foot, and then to look at something far beyond him.
"This is Mr.Hilliard," Lord Cromer said, "the young gentleman I have spoken of." "You want to go up ?" the general said shortly, in Arabic.
"Yes, sir." "You do not mind in what capacity you go ?" "No, sir; I am ready to do anything." "To work on the railway, or in the transport ?" "Yes, sir.

Though I would rather not be on the railway, for the railway cannot get on as fast as the troops; but I would enlist in one of the English regiments, if they would take me." "And you speak the language of the Nubian blacks ?" The question was put in that language.
"Yes; I do not think I speak it quite as well as Arabic, but I speak it fairly." "Do you think that you could stand the fatigue ?--no child's play, you know." "I can only say that I hope I can, sir.

I have been accustomed to take long walks, and spend an hour a day in gymnastic exercises, and I have had lessons in fencing." "Can you use a pistol ?" "Yes, fairly; I have practised a good deal with it." "You are most fitted for an interpreter," the general said, speaking this time in English.

"Now the North Staffordshire have come down, there are no British regiments up there, and of course the British officers in the Egyptian army all speak Arabic, to some extent.
However, I will send you up to Dongola.

Either General Hunter, or Colonel Wingate, of the Intelligence Department, may be able to find some use for you; and when the British troops go up, you can be attached to one of their regiments as their interpreter.