But Renwick seized his wrist in a strong grip. "You have not spoken yet."
"I will speak, then," said Zaidee. "Selim is a fool to hesitate. I nursed the Excellency for two nights and a day. I cooked her eggs and chicken and soup, but she would not eat. She was very much frightened."
"Oh, no. Very politely, and paid us for our service, but the Excellency was frightened. I was kind to her, and she was grateful, but she spoke nothing of where she was going. Perhaps she did not know. But it was not to take the waters."
"You, Selim," broke in Renwick, "you heard the men speaking? What did they say?"
"How can I remember? They planned their journey with a map, but I had no interest----"
"Hungary!" And then scratching his head, "Yes, it must have been of Hungary, for they spoke of Budapest----"
"You must----!" Renwick's fingers closed again upon the hundred _kroner_ note which Selim had put back on the table.
"What good would it do if I lied to you?"
"Think, man, think! They made marks upon the map?"
"Up and down, the way they were sitting?"
"Yes. I think so. By the beard of the Prophet! You can't expect a fellow to remember such things as this for two months."
"Mountains----!" Selim scratched his head again. "How should I know?"
Selim tapped his brow with a stubby forefinger.
"There was a name they spoke many times. It was a strange name."
"I was listening, but I could not understand."
"Was it Cracow? Kaschau? Agram? Was it Brünn?"
"Think!" said Renwick. "At the top of the map--away from them--near the edge?"
Selim shrugged hopelessly. "I can't remember," he said.
"Yes. I remember that. It covered this table----"
"Ah--then you can tell me how they stood?"
He got up and placed himself at the side of the table. "The Excellency was here--the map spread out----"
"Did he lean to the left or to the right?"
"He leaned well forward with both elbows upon the table--straight forward--yes--almost across--a pencil in his hand--the other was pointing. The lamp was just there----" pointing to the left center of the table.
"No. It remained there until they raised it to take the map away."
"I understand. And they made marks up and down with a pencil?"
"How can one be sure of a name? It is a wonder just now that I can remember my own. Had I known what was to happen----" And he shrugged and dropped wearily again into his chair.