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Show ~·;p ----:.__~ .. .t.:• \~~;-"~~- across a runlet of wate;,and int~·~~; ""-- ~; \:. '~ open space, a sort of Arab place, or 1~ - " -J:;;_ ~;~ piazza, on the farther side of which l >· :;:--"~-:lights shone from a nahve cafe maure_ - ... Here, squatting upon the floor, among •- ----""-::.-~_.a crowd of hooded men, was Achmed with a coffee-cup beside him, intent on playing draughts. When he saw his master he instantly rose with a smile, pushed his companions away without ceremony, and invited Sir Claude to come in and sit down on an earthen divan. But Sir Claude had no mind for pleasure_ "Come out, Achmed!" he said, standing rigid in the low doorway. "I want to speak to you." Achmed seriously saluted his friends, swung a fold of his burnous over his left shoulder, picked out his pair of yellow slippers from a medley against the wall, and gently stepped across to Sir Claude and followed him out into the night_ •• The shadow glided after them_ "Here, I say," said Sir Claude, irritably, "Get rid of this fellow_ Give him something-this." He held out a franc_ "And tell him to be off_" Achmed obeyed, and the shadow evaporated into the darkness. When they were alone, walking back towards the auberge, Sir Claude began: " How long would it take to get back to El-Akbara ?" "El-Akbara, m'sieu! But it is im-possible_'' \ "Answer my question_ How long would it take?" "If we start early to- morrow, m'sieu, at sunrise-" -= "I don't mean to-morrow_ I mean ---:c.:.--:;;,; to-night." "I do not know, m'sieu_ One does __ not make such a journey at night in ~~the desert with a stranger." -~~ 97 |