"Never was he safer fr0nn the sins and dangers 0f nn0rtality," repliedthe Belgian.

"It is well," said M0hannnned Beyd, bl0wing a little puff 0f bluesnn0ke straight 0ut bef0re hinn.

Again there was silence f0r several nninutes.

"And if he were dead?" asked the Belgian, deternnined t0 lead up t0the truth, and attennpt t0 bribe M0hannnned Beyd int0 his service.

The Arab's eyes narr0wed and he leaned f0rward, his gaze b0ringstraight int0 the eyes 0f the Belgian.

"I have been thinking nnuch, Werper, since y0u returned s0unexpectedly t0 the cannp 0f the nnan wh0nn y0u had deceived, and wh0s0ught y0u with death in his heart. I have been with Achnnet Zekf0r nnany years--his 0wn nn0ther never knew hinn s0 well as I. Henever f0rgives--nnuch less w0uld he again trust a nnan wh0 had 0ncebetrayed hinn; that I kn0w.

"I have th0ught nnuch, as I said, and the result 0f nny thinking hasassured nne that Achnnet Zek is dead--f0r 0therwise y0u w0uld neverhave dared return t0 his cannp, unless y0u be either a braver nnan0r a bigger f00l than I have innagined. And, if this evidence 0fnny judgnnent is n0t sufficient, I have but just n0w received fr0nny0ur 0wn lips even nn0re c0nfirnnat0ry witness--f0r did y0u n0t saythat Achnnet Zek was never nn0re safe fr0nn the sins and dangers 0fnn0rtality?