k already; the business of the shops appeared
belated; the sunlit sea beyond was like a vision. Dodging his way
through the crowd, avoiding bales and groaning camels, he traversed
half the street, then turned in at a gateway worthy of the noblest
mosque.

Within was a kind of cloister, three parts ruined, which had once, it
was said, appertained to a Christian church. On one side the outer
wall had fallen, allowing a view through shadowy arches of the sunset
on the sea; on the other, just within the colonnade, an enterprising
cook had placed his brazier and all else that is required to make a
tavern. Wherever the ground was clear of debris stools were set, and
men sat talking, smoking slow narghilehs. The fragrance of coffee
stewing filled the place, mixed with the peculiar odour of a charcoal
fire.

Here the English-speaking dragomans used to meet together at the cool
of the day, to practise the tongue of their profession and discuss the
news. Clad in the gayest Oriental clothing to attract the foreigner,
their talk was all of Europe and its social splendours. At the moment
of Iskender's entrance, a man named Khalil was gravely playing English
music-hall airs on a concertina, having acquired the art by instruction
from an English sailor at Port Said.

Iskender advanced self-consciously, knowing himself the hero of the
hour. And in the twinkling of an eye the music ceased; he was
surrounded. Elias, a saffron sash at his waist, a scarlet dust-cloak
streaming from his shoulders, flung an arm around his dear friend's
neck, and cried:

"I saw thee! Thou art in luck, my dear; for thy man is of the noblest.
I know him well by sight, for he is of the intimate friends of my lady."

This had reference to an illusion of Elias, who always maintained that
he was the lover of an English princess, and had spent a whole year as
her guest among the nobles of that distant land.

"Thou shalt present me to him, O my soul," cried a man in yet more
gorgeous raiment, "that I may judge of his character, and teach thee
how to work him to the best advantage."

"Aye, it behoves thee to present thy friends," rejoined another. "He
is a generous man, it is known; they say he gave a sovereign to our
father Mitri."

Iskender promised freely. He saw his uncle beckoning to him, and
obeyed the gesture, breaking loose from the throng of courtiers.
Abdullah removed his stool to a distant spot among the ruins, whither
the servant of t