Part 50 (1/2)
”Where do such things have their birth? It is no easier to discover than the birthchamber of the anti-British propaganda in Egypt, Effendi.”
”You do not attach any belief to the rumour?”
”_La_, Effendi. Who would believe that men are standing knee-deep in jewels and precious stones, and that there is enough gold to build three mosques in these hills, so near the village?”
Michael laughed. He remembered the reports which had been spread abroad about the wealth of Freddy's find. One Englishman had heard that Freddy had been wading ankle-deep in priceless scarabs and jewels and gold collars and necklaces.
”You may well laugh, Effendi. The poor and ignorant will believe anything. I must see the jewels first.”
Michael wondered what he would say if he showed him the crimson amethyst which had had its second hiding-place in the saint's ear.
”But who is reported to have found this King Solomon's mine?”
”Some poor man, whom no one has seen or spoken to--every man who tells you the fairy-tale has heard it from his trusted friend, from a reliable source. I never believe in these trusted friends, or any reliable source but my own eyes. And even then, with the wise, seeing isn't always believing.”
Michael stole an unseen glance at Abdul. His face was as expressionless as a death-mask. The report appeared to him to be beneath contempt. He politely warned his master that the sun was not so high in the heavens; they had many hours to travel.
When they were out of hearing and all the polite good-byes had been spoken--a proceeding which is always a trying one to the impatient traveller--Michael and Abdul talked together in low accents and in English. What had the _Omdeh's_ news really meant?
In Abdul's heart there was little doubt as to who had found it, if there was any truth in the rumour. Even if they divided the wealth of the treasure by a hundred, and made all due allowances for native exaggeration, it still seemed as though the treasure was one of unusual importance.
”Then you believe there is truth in the report that the treasure has been found, Abdul?”
”Who but the spy of Madam could have known of it, Effendi? and certainly this rumour is disturbing.”
”Some natives might have hit upon it by accident. Such things have happened before.”
”_Aiwah_, Effendi.” Abdul smiled his unbelieving, unpleasant smile.
”Just at this particular time, after all these thousands of years, the coincidence would indeed be strange.”
”Then you believe, Abdul, that Madam has antic.i.p.ated us? that she has secured the treasure?”
”_Aiwah_, Effendi, I do, if there is any truth in the story. And if there is not, it is very strange that such a rumour should have been started at this moment.”
”I agree,” Michael said. ”And yet something in my heart tells me that Madam has not done the deed.”
”The little voice, Effendi, it is always true, it knows. If the little voice counsels, always obey it.”
”It tells me, Abdul, that in this one instance Madam is innocent. I agree with you that if the treasure has been found, it is pa.s.sing strange and points only to one thing. And yet, if I was to lay my hand on the Holy Book and swear my belief, it would not be that she was guilty of this piece of treachery.”
”If Madam has not antic.i.p.ated the Effendi, then the treasure is intact!
The rumour is false. It is strange what wonderful treasures have melted into thin air before this, Effendi. I have known of dealers in _antikas_ travelling for days without end, only to find . . .!” Abdul threw back his head.
”A mare's nest,” Michael said. ”That is what we call it, Abdul.”
”A good expression, Effendi.” In Abdul's heart there was anger and chagrin. Had the harlot outwitted them? Was she even now in possession of the jewels and gold which the saint had discovered, which he himself had clearly visualized?
A beatific smile lit up his face. If the woman had lain in the sheets which had made the sick man's bed, not all the jewels of the Orient or the gold of Ophir would now make her hideous face pleasing in the sight of men! What would her emeralds and topazes and cornelians be worth?