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Show "Something in Achmed's manner when I asked him and he denied it. And yet he lies well, like all the Arabs. But there was a something, Sidi. He didn't want to talk of Benchai\lal. '' Sir Claude leaned over the table lowards her. "You think there's something up?" "Monsieur, how can I know? But one thing I know is this-if I had a wife, and she was pretty and young, I would not leave her alone with Benchaalal near her, no, not for five minutes." Sir Claude got up and turned towthe doorway. !" he roared. "Venez! of tryin' to fly as of havin' anything to do with one of these damned blacks. As a friend, I mean-as a guide, of course! What are you smilin' at?" "Nothing, m'sieu. I was not smiling. Monsieur was deceived by the lamplight. There's a wind getting up." She moved the lamp and placed it so that her face was in shadow. Sir Claude grunted. He felt sure he had seen an ugly smile cross the woman's face, and suddenly he regretted that he had established a sort of intimacy with this stranger. He had been too impulsive. But she was a European and a woman, and then it was from her that all these suspicions had come to knock upon the door of his mind. "Kindly give me the bill, madame,'' he said, stiffly. "And put down that bottle of wine and the room for the night. I'll pay, of course, as if I . stayed." ••7 |