"Not in the least," replied Ezra readily. "My horse was a bit startled; but that is all."

Instantly the dark eyes went to the horse; its weary condition seemed to excite the stranger's sympathy.

"You have ridden far?" said he, gently.

"From Cambridge," replied Ezra. "But it has taken several days."

"And you are going--?" Here the other paused with undoubted expectancy.

"Toward Chelmsford," replied Ezra.

The man seemed baffled; he pa.s.sed one hand over his shining bald head as though in meditation. But the singular dark eyes never left the boy's face.

"This is rather an unusual way to select," he said at last. "Rough and indirect."

"Perhaps so," said Ezra. "But I had some small matters of business hereabouts."

An eager look came into the man's face; he held up one hand with an inquiring gesture.

"You were to ask for some one?" said he.

"Yes. For a gentleman of the name of Abdallah."

"I am he," said the other humbly. "Abdallah-son of Hamid-a poor scholar, and a friend to all the world."

Ezra took out the packet from the breast of his coat; riding close to the fence he gave it into Abdallah's hands.

"I thank you," said the man. "I had been expecting you for some days."

His fingers pattered nervously upon the papers; it was plain to see that he was all eagerness to tear them open that he might come at their contents.

But he restrained himself; with calm eyes he looked at Ezra and said:

"Perhaps it was part of your instructions that you bear back any answer to these that might be necessary."

Ezra hesitated for a moment. His first impulse was to make a plain statement of the facts, to tell him how he met Scarlett by the wayside, relate how the papers had been handed over to him, and why. But second thought prompted him to take advantage of the other's mistake. What the lad had heard of Abdallah had interested him exceedingly. If there were anything unusual in his transactions, or anything against the public good, here was a most excellent opportunity of throwing a light upon the matter.

So, like a flash, he made up his mind.

"I was given no instructions by the gentleman who entrusted me with this errand," said he, "save only that I was to hand the packet to you."

Abdallah nodded his head.

"It is well to be careful. I have always approved of such a method,"

spoke he.

The great dark eyes were fixed upon Ezra's face; for all their gentleness, the boy fancied that he caught an element of speculation in them. But before he had time to note more, the man proceeded:

"I am a reader of faces and you have a faithful look. You are of the type that would be apt to do anything that he engaged to do." He tapped the papers upon the palm of one hand for a moment, as though considering; then proceeded: "Will you carry the answer to the person who gave these?" And the eyes narrowed.

"He was an utter stranger to me," said Ezra. "I would not know where to look for him."

The man laughed softly and seemed satisfied.

"In matters like this," said he, "it is not always wise to give names or addresses. It might prove inconvenient. However, it does not matter. I will so advise you as to the answer that you cannot well go astray."

With that Ezra dismounted without more ado. Tying his horse to the gate-post, he followed the man through a low, wide doorway into the house.

The boy was open-eyed for something unusual. What he had heard of Abdallah, and, indeed, the man's personal appearance, led him to be so; and he was not disappointed.

Without, the house was clumsy and ill-shaped, the product perhaps of an uncouth workman of past generations. It was also neglected, unpainted and weather-stained. The enclosure about it was yellow with the weeds of a summer before.

But within all was different. The shutters did not admit a ray of light; candles, set in queer twisted sconces of copper, burned behind rose-colored shades of gla.s.s. Large mirrors glittered upon the walls; the doorways were hung with rich draperies; a soft Turkey carpet and rich rugs were upon the floor. Several broad couches covered with crimson leather stood about.

And books were everywhere-upon shelves, upon tables and chairs; faded scrolls covered with strange Oriental characters were scattered about; queer ma.n.u.scripts, musty and tattered, lay open to view where some one had been lately consulting them.

On a broad, brick hearth stood a small furnace with a leather bellows attached. Beside this were queer instruments and vessels of metal and gla.s.s at whose uses the boy could only guess.

"Be seated, I beg of you," spoke Abdallah, with grave courtesy. "It is but a poor place to ask a guest; but to what there is, you are welcome indeed."

Ezra sat down upon one of the couches. It was soft and extremely comforting to one who had been in the saddle since early morning. And as he sat, his eyes went about the apartment wonderingly.

The man noted this and smiled. Ezra hastened to say:

"I ask your pardon. But there is not, I will venture to say, such another place as this in all Ma.s.sachusetts."

Abdallah inclined his stately head gravely.

"No doubt you are right," said he. "In this Western world the lore of the East is all but unknown." He sighed and shook his head. "All is so new. The men, the customs, the very country. They have no leisure for employment of a deeper sort."

Ezra looked at the speaker curiously.

"I have heard but little of the unusual sciences of the East," said he, "and have read very little more. I have no doubt but that they are wonderful and interesting; and I am pleased to meet with a gentleman so learned in them."

Abdallah made a gesture of protest.

"You give me too much credit," said he, gravely. "I am but a poor scholar. 'Tis true that some of the mysteries of life have been made known to me. But that is all. I am a struggling student as yet, and cannot hope to be more until years of labor have been gone through."

Gla.s.s vessels containing liquids stood upon a shelf. They were long necked and yet with squat, round bodies; their contents were of amber, purple, jade and other rich colors and they twinkled and flashed in the subdued light of the candles.

"You practice the art of healing, sir, I perceive," suggested Ezra, looking at these.

But Abdallah shook his head.

"I am fairly well versed in the business of a leech," he replied. "But I give but little time to it."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Ill.u.s.tration: "YOU PRACTICE THE ART OF HEALING, SIR"]

Here Ezra caught an odd, m.u.f.fled, lingering sound. It was low and indistinct. Thinking it was something outside-a bird, a small animal or such-he paid no attention to it. But at the same time he noticed a peculiar expression upon the face of Abdallah, and he also saw the look which the man flashed at him.