" He laughed. "By Allah, I do not know thee, 0 my
father! Is this the woman thou wouldst take for thine own? This the
woman for whose possession thou wouldst jeopardize thy life and perhaps
the very Bashalik itself!"
Asad clenched his hands until the nails bit into his flesh. Every word
his son had uttered had been as a lash to his soul. The truth of it was
not to be contested. He was humiliated and shamed. Yet was he not
conquered of his madness, nor diverted from his course. Before he could
make answer, the tall martial figure of Biskaine came up the companion.
"Well?" the Basha greeted him eagerly, thankful for this chance to turn
the subject.
Biskaine was downcast. His news was to be read in his countenance. "The
task appointed me was difficult," said he. "I have done my best. Yet I
could scarce go about it in such a fashion as to draw definite
conclusions. But this I know, my lord, that he will be reckless indeed
if he dares to take up arms against thee and challenge thine authority.
So much at least I am permitted to conclude."
"No more than that?" asked Asad. "And if I were to take up arms against
him, and to seek to settle this matter out of hand?"
Biskaine paused a moment ere replying. "I cannot think but that Allah
would vouchsafe thee victory," he said. But his words did not delude the
Basha. He recognized them to be no more than those which respect for him
dictated to his officer.
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