Terence O'Rourke, Gentleman Adventurer
harm by saying this; but what ye know about the Moors and the rest of us here in Tangiers I could put in me eye without so much as winking. Um-m, now, don't be getting wrathy with me; 'tis for your own good that I'm putting ye wise. Observe."
He waved a hand gracefully toward the Rock, that seemed a low-lying, threatening thunder cloud on the horizon.
"That," he laid down the law, "is the home of the nearest respectable white man I call to mind, barring the two of us, Mr. Senet. This side of the Straits we're all tarred with the same feather, speaking generally; every last one of us is a swindler, or otherwise déclassé, according to the sex. 'Tis not for the beautiful climate and the outrageous smells of Tangiers that we're squatting here, but because Morocco has neglected—very thoughtfully—to make extradition treaties with other countries. So we can't be haled away to suffer for our naughtiness. Take meself, even—I'm bold enough to hold meself a little better than the general run, but I'd hate to meet up with certain persons on European soil, just now."
"I don't believe it!" cried Senet, promptly loyal to his new-found friend.
"'Tis so. Not that 'twas me own fault, I admit. I was dragged, in a way of speaking, into a little shindy in Cairo. A herd of one-horse conspirators were planning to indulge Egypt in a second edition of the Indian Mutiny, a while back. I refused to mix with them, and wan of them jumped me. 'Twas his life or mine, and—I plugged him. Misfortunafely, he happened to be a prince of the Khedival household. So 'tis meself that's wanted; and 'tis here I must be waiting till I have a chance to sneak through Suez, quietlike and unbeknownst to the Cairenes that are thirsting for me blood."
Senet sat up, his face shining. "You don't mean to say,"
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