There were many handsome men, but Si Maieddine was not among them.
"We've been told that he's _persona grata_ here," Nevill reminded
Stephen, "and there are lots of places where he may be in the palace,
that we can't get to. He's perhaps hob-nobbing with some pal, having a
private confab, and maybe he'll turn up at supper."
"He doesn't look like a man to care about food, I will say that for
him," answered Stephen. "He's taken the alarm, and sneaked off without
giving me time to track him. I'll bet anything that's the fact. Hiding
the brooch is a proof he saw me, I'm afraid. Smart of him! He thought my
friend would be somewhere about, and he'd better get rid of damaging
evidence."
"You haven't explained the brooch, yet."
"I forgot. It's one _she_ wore on the boat--and that day at your
house--Miss Ray, I mean. She told me about it; said it had been a
present from Ben Halim to her sister, who gave it to her."
"Sure you couldn't mistake it? There's a strong family likeness in Arab
jewellery."
"I'm sure. And even if I hadn't been at first, I should be now, from
that chap's whisking it off the instant he set eyes on me. His having it
proves a lot. As she wore the thing at your house, he must have got it
somehow after we saw her. Jove, Nevill, I'd like to choke him!"
"If you did, he couldn't tell what he knows."
"I'm going to find out somehow. Come along, no use wasting time here
now, trying to get vague information out of Arab chiefs.
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