Peace!
Friend would meet friend and greet each other with all the extravagance of the East, throwing themselves upon each other's breasts, placing right arm over left shoulder, squeezing like wrestlers, with intermittent hugs and caresses, then laying cheek delicately against cheek and flat palm against palm, at the same time making the loud, smacking noise of many kisses in the air.
When the prisoners were brought into the audience hall. Hector was utterly astonished to recognize his brother.
“Tollemache!” he cried. “Why—Tollemache …”
Then, quickly, he suppressed the words that were rising to his lips. He was here as the regent of Tamerlanistan and the other as a rebel—a slightly amused, slightly amazed, and altogether coolly collected rebel, in contrast to Mr. Preserved Higgins who believed, to quote his own words, in “bullyin' the other feller before the other feller gets a chance to bully you.”
“I s'y!” he shouted. “Wot's all this 'ere muckin' about mean—mykin' me ride a donkey 'indside-front, and pokin' me at the point of a bleedin' lance all over this 'ere plurry, second-'and continent? I'm goin' to raise a 'ell of a stink with the British government, I am. I'm a British subject—and no lousy, card-cheatin' …”
“Shut up, you damned cad!” whispered Tollemache. “I tell you that …”
And then he was suddenly silent. For the
