"Tell me what this means, and why you deceived
us about Lawrence."
"We've something to show you," Grim answered. "Mrs. Ticknor brought it;
otherwise it might have been seen by the wrong people."
Feisul took the hint and dismissed the Syrian officers, calling them by
their first names as he gave them "leave to go." Then Mabel produced
the letter and Feisul read it, crossing one thin leg over the other and
leaning back easily. But he sat forward again and laughed bitterly when
he had read it twice over.
"I didn't write this. I never saw it before, or heard of it," he said
simply.
"I know that," said Grim. "But we thought you'd better look at it."
Feisul laid the letter across his knee and paused to light a cigarette.
I thought he was going to do what nine men out of ten in a tight place
would certainly have done; but he blew out the match, and went on
smoking.
"You mean your government has seen the thing, and sent you to confront
me with it?"
It was Grim's turn to laugh, and he was jubilant without a trace of
bitterness.
"No. The chief and I have risked our jobs by not reporting it. This
visit is strictly unofficial.
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