“You shall know in the morning—­you alone.  This man, who can neither hear nor speak, and the child with him, must stay in here tonight, and go when they choose, unquestioned.”

“Jimgrim, this is not a place for setting traps for criminals.  Set your watch outside, and none shall interfere with you.”

“‘Shall the heart within be cleansed by washing hands?’” Grim quoted, and the shiekh smiled.

“Do you mean there are criminals within the mosque?  If so, this is sanctuary, Jimgrim.  They shall not be disturbed.  Set watchmen at the doors and catch them as they leave, if you will.  This is holy ground.”

“There’ll be none of it left to boast about this time tomorrow, if you choose to insist!” Grim answered.

“Should there be riddles between you and me?” asked the sheikh.

“You shall know all in the morning.”

The sheikh’s face changed again, taking on a look of mingled rage and cunning.

“I know, then, what it is!  The rumour is true that those cursed Zionists intend to desecrate the place.  This fellow, who you say is deaf and dumb, is one of your spies—­is he not?  Perhaps he can smell a Zionist—­eh?  Well, there are others!  Better tell me the truth, Jimgrim, and in fifteen minutes I will pack this place so full of true Moslems that no conspirator could worm his way in!  Then if the Jews start anything let them beware!”

“By the beard of your Prophet,” Grim answered impiously, “this has nothing to do with Zionists.”

“Neither have I, then, anything to do with this trespass.  You have my leave to depart at once, Jimgrim!”

“After the ruin—­”

“There will be no ruin, Jimgrim!  I will fill the place with men.”

“Better empty it of men!  The more there are in it, the bigger the death-roll!  Shall I say afterwards that I begged leave to set a watch, and you refused?”

“You—­you, Jimgrim—­you talk to me of ruin and a death-roll?  You are no every-day alarmist.”

“Did you ever catch me in a lie?”

“No, Jimgrim.  You are too clever by far for that!  If you were to concoct a lie it would take ten angels to unravel it!  But—­ you speak of ruin and a death-roll, eh?” He stroked his beard for about a minute.

“You have heard, perhaps, that Moslems are sharpening their swords for a reckoning with the Jews?  There may be some truth in it.  But there shall be no gathering in this place for any such purpose, for I will see to that.  You need set no watch in here on that account.”

“The time always comes,” Grim answered, “when you must trust a man or mistrust him.  You’ve known me eleven years.  What are you going to do?”

“In the name of God, what shall I answer!  Taib,* Jimgrim, I will trust you.  What is it you wish?” [All right.]

“To leave this deaf-and-dumb man and the boy, below the Rock, undisturbed.”