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HIS WORK AND METHODS 379
Very striking it was to see how his share in the
work of forwarding this great political scheme absorbed
his Excellency's whole energies and thoughts.
No partner ever took a more personal interest in a
business. One could understand a man in his Excellency's
position doing his duty precisely, even
something beyond his duty, but he seemed to find
much more than duty in it, and showed not a little of
the visionary's enthusiasm. Every v/aking moment
seemed to be devoted to the service he was engaged
upon. All day long, from early morning till late at
night, came messages and telegrams, couriers with
bags of mails from Constantinople, callers of all sorts.
"We can talk," he would say, while transacting
business, " for this is only routine work "
; and
talk we did— apparently without interruption to
his industry. As I sat smoking in his room and
watched him I wondered how all these activities could
arise. It appeared that he kept himself instantly
posted in matters over a wide area. When the
Consul returned to Osmanieh, his Excellency arranged
for him to spend the night in German quarters at
that place. The morning afterwards, while we were
breakfasting, his Excellency remarked
" The Consul didn't go to our house at Osmanieh.
It is very strange." When I asked how he knew, he
replied that he had just received a telegram. The
matter seemed to worry him, as if a prowling rival
had unaccountably slipped out of sight again. From
this trifle, while still at breakfast, he had to pass
to affairs at Aleppo, and write instant letters for
waiting messengers.
" Sometimes I think it necessary," he said, " to go
into other districts, and then I telegraph to the
'
Ambassador. The Ambassador replies : 1 approve.'
I set off in the morning, on horseback, with Ibrahim
Chowshe
;
by evening I am in Aleppo, the next day
on the Euphrates. In five days I ride two hundred
and fifty miles."
He was somewhat short and stout, not a great