Only since you have been at dinner I visited your room and read some writings which, foolishly, you and John have left among your baggage, and opened some books in which other names than Peter and John were written, and drew a great sword from its scabbard on which was engraved a motto: 'Meet D'Arcy, meet Death!' and heard Peter call John Wulf, and John call Peter Godwin, and so forth." "It seems," said Wulf in English, "that we are flies in a web, and that the spider is called the widow Masouda, though of what use we are to her I know not.

Now, brother, what is to be done?
Make friends with the spider ?" "An ill ally," answered Godwin.

Then looking her straight in the face he asked, "Hostess, who know so much, tell me why, amongst other names, did that donkey driver call you 'daughter of Al-je-bal' ?" She started, and answered: "So you understand Arabic?
I thought it.

Why do you ask?
What does it matter to you ?" "Not much, except that, as we are going to visit Al-je-bal, of course we think ourselves fortunate to have met his daughter." "Going to visit Al-je-bal?
Yes, you hinted as much upon the ship, did you not?
Perhaps that is why I came to meet you.

Well, your throats will be cut before ever you reach the first of his castles." "I think not," said Godwin, and, putting his hand into his breast, he drew thence a ring, with which he began to play carelessly.
"Whence that ring ?" she said, with fear and wonder in her eyes.
"It is--" and she ceased.
"From one to whom it was given and who has charged us with a message.