“Perhaps so,” said Ezra. “But I had some small matters of business hereabouts.”
An eager look came into the man’s face; he held up one hand with an inquiring gesture.
“Yes. For a gentleman of the name of Abdallah.”
“I am he,” said the other humbly. “Abdallah—son of Hamid—a poor scholar, and a friend to all the world.”
Ezra took out the packet from the breast of his coat; riding close to the fence he gave it into Abdallah’s hands.
“I thank you,” said the man. “I had been expecting you for some days.”
His fingers pattered nervously upon the papers; it was plain to see that he was all eagerness to tear them open that he might come at their contents.
But he restrained himself; with calm eyes he looked at Ezra and said:
“Perhaps it was part of your instructions that you bear back any answer to these that might be necessary.”
Ezra hesitated for a moment. His first impulse was to make a plain statement of the facts, to tell him how he met Scarlett by the wayside, relate how the papers had been handed over to him, and why. But second thought prompted him to take advantage of the other’s mistake. What the lad had heard of Abdallah had interested him exceedingly. If there were anything unusual in his transactions, or anything against the public good, here was a most excellent opportunity of throwing a light upon the matter.
“I was given no instructions by the gentleman who entrusted me with this errand,” said he, “save only that I was to hand the packet to you.”
“It is well to be careful. I have always approved of such a method,” spoke he.
The great dark eyes were fixed upon Ezra’s face; for all their gentleness, the boy fancied that he caught an element of speculation in them. But before he had time to note more, the man proceeded:
“I am a reader of faces and you have a faithful look. You are of the type that would be apt to do anything that he engaged to do.” He tapped the papers upon the palm of one hand for a moment, as though considering; then proceeded: “Will you carry the answer to the person who gave these?” And the eyes narrowed.
“He was an utter stranger to me,” said Ezra. “I would not know where to look for him.”
The man laughed softly and seemed satisfied.
“In matters like this,” said he, “it is not always wise to give names or addresses. It might prove inconvenient. However, it does not matter. I will so advise you as to the answer that you cannot well go astray.”