noon
He would give much to hear the conversation between Kaid and the stranger ; he was all too conscious of its purport . As he stood thinking , Kaid returned . After looking round the room for a moment , the Prince came slowly over to Nahoum , and , stretching out a hand , stroked his beard . `` Oh , brother of all the wise , may thy sun never pass its noon ! '' said Kaid , in a low , friendly voice . Despite his will , a shudder passed through Nahoum Pasha 's frame . How often in Egypt this gesture and such words were the prelude to assassination , from which there was no escape save by death itself .