'I've a
good mind to go round ag'in,' she declared, and when she was told that
we were all 'going round ag'in,' she drew close to the window and made
her second circuit in breathless silence.

As we left the wheel and came out from the gate, where a crowd was
pushing and pressing for entrance, Miss Jenrys, feeling herself
suddenly jostled by some impatient one, uttered a quick exclamation,
and at the sound someone just before me, and whom I had not chanced to
observe in the crowd, turned quickly, shot a hasty glance at Miss
Jenrys, and as suddenly turned back again.

The face was that of a youth, dark-skinned, and with keen black eyes;
the hair, cropped close to the head, was as black as the thick, long
lashes; the form was slender, and the head scarcely came up to my
shoulders; a slight figure, a youthful face, it caught and riveted my
attention. After the first glance in our direction, the young man
seemed only anxious to extricate himself from the crowd, which he soon
did.

We were on our way to Cairo Street, and when we entered at the nearest
gateway I saw this same youth just ahead. Lossing and Miss Jenrys went
before, and as they turned into the street proper, and moved slowly
toward the east court where the donkey-boys were gathered, the youth,
who had paused as if in indecision, glanced up and down the street
and then hurried away toward the Temple of Luxor at the western end of
the inclosure.

There was much of interest in the street, but the ladies soon tired of
watching the donkey-boys and smiling at the awkward feats of the camel
riders, and turned their attention toward the shops and the
architecture; turning finally from mosque and theatre to the more
private apartments--they were hardly houses--with their small, high
balconies, their latticed windows, their dark doorways, their sills
almost level with the street.

It was Miss Ross who expressed a desire to have a nearer view of one
of these dark and cool-looking interiors, and as we turned our faces
westward I saw across the way, on the inner side of the street, an
open doorway, giving just a glimpse of some dark hangings, a brass
lantern swinging from the roof, and a couple of men in flowing robes
and turbans, lounging upon a divan within.

Beckoning to the others, I crossed the street, spoke to the men, and,
finding that one could understand a little English, asked permission
to enter with the ladies.

It was granted, after a moment's hesitat