"How shall I commence the letter?" he asked me with a dry, sly smile.
He thought he had me there. There are doubtless proper forms of address
that serve to establish the genuineness of letters written by a spy.
"Commence half-way down the page," I answered. "We'll insert the
address afterwards. Write in French:"
"I shall accompany the Emir Feisul and Colonel Lawrence to the front
tonight, former plan having miscarried. When Syrian retreat begins look
out for automobile containing Feisul and Lawrence, which may be
recognized easily as it will also contain myself and another civilian in
plain clothes. At the psychological moment a white flag will be shown
from it, waved perhaps surreptitiously by one of the civilians. In the
event of breakdown of the automobile a horsed vehicle will be used and
the same signal will apply. For the sake of myself and the other
civilian, please instruct all officers to keep a sharp lookout and
protect the party from being fired on."
"There," I said, "sign that and address it."
He hesitated. He couldn't doubt that his own arrangements with traitors
on the staff to kidnap Feisul had gone amiss, else how should I be aware
of them at all--I, who had only arrived that evening in Damascus? But
it puzzled him to know why I should make him write the letter, or, since
his plan must have failed, why I should let him share in the kidnapping.
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