paint, cool from the bath which he had been taking while I had been
walking on that terrace. How is it that these governors and
commanders-in-chief go through such a deal of work without fagging?
It was not yet two hours since he was jolting about in that omnibus-
box, and there he had been all night. I could not have gone off to
the Well of Moses immediately on my arrival. It's the dignity of
the position that does it. I have long known that the head of a
firm must never count on a mere clerk to get through as much work as
he could do himself. It's the interest in the matter that supports
the man.

They went, and Sir George, as I was well assured, had never heard a
word about me. Had he done so, is it probable that he would have
requested my attendance?

But Mahmoud and his followers no doubt kept their own counsel as to
that little mistake. There they went, and the gentle rippling
breeze filled their sail pleasantly, as the boat moved away into the
bay. I felt no spite against any of them but Mahmoud. Why had he
avoided me with such cowardice? I could still see them when the
morning tchibouk was handed to Sir George; and, though I wished him
no harm, I did envy him as he lay there reclining luxuriously upon
the cushions.

A more wretched day than that I never spent in my life. As I went
in and out, the porter at the gate absolutely scoffed at me. Once I
made up my mind to complain within the house. But what could I have
said of the dirty Arab? They would have told me that it was his
religion, or a national observance, or meant for a courtesy. What
can a man do, in a strange country, when he is told that a native