that did not seem to know
whether to resent my presence or be simply curious, I caught the
eye of Suliman ben Saoud in the front row opposite, ten or twelve
cushions nearer the door than where I sat. He did not seem to
notice me. The absence of eyebrows made his face expressionless.
He didn't even vaguely resemble the Major James Grim whom I knew
him to be. When his eyes met mine there was no symptom of
recognition. If he felt as nervous as I did he certainly did not
show it behind his mask of insolent indifference.

There was still a good deal of muttered abuse being directed at
Anazeh. The atmosphere was electric. It felt as if violence
might break out any minute. Abdul Ali seemed more nervous than
any one else; he rocked himself gently on his cushion, as if
churning the milk of desire into the butter of wise words.
Suddenly he turned to the sheikh on his left, a handsome man of
middle age, who wore a scimitar tucked into a gold-embroidered
sash, and whispered to him.

Ben Hamza whispered to me: "That sheikh to whom Abdul Ali speaks
is Ali Shah al Khassib, the most powerful sheikh in these parts.
A great prince. A man with many followers."

Ali Shah al Khassib called for prayer to bring the mejlis to
order. He was immensely dignified. The few words he pronounced
about asking God to bless the assembled notables with wisdom, in
order that they might reach a right decision, would have been
perfectly in place in the Capitol at Washington, or anywhere else
where men foregather to decide on peace or war.

At once a muballir* on his left opened a copy of the Koran on a
cushion on his lap and began to read from it in a nasal singsong.
There were various degrees of devoutness, and even of inattention
shown by those who listened. Some knelt and prostrated
themselves. Others, including Anazeh, sat bolt upright, closing
their eyes dreamily at intervals. Over the way, Jim Suliman ben
Saoud Grim was especially formally devout. His very life
undoubtedly depended on being recognized as a fanatic of
fanatics. [*A Moslem priest who recites prayers.]

But there were three Christian sheikhs in the room. One of them
opposite me pulled out a Bible and laid it on the carpet as a
sort of challenge to the Koran. It was probably a dangerous
thing to do, although most Moslems respect the Bible as a very
sacred book. The manner in which it was done suggested
deliberate effort to provoke a quarrel.

Mahommed ben Hamz