what I mean."

"Have you a mate?"

"I had. She is lost."

"Dead?"

"Worse."

I kept at work. White clouds sailed over the
mosque; a flurry of pigeons swept by; the air blew
fresh. With the exception of my companion and
myself the street was deserted. I dared not go any
further in my inquiries. If I betrayed any more
interest or previous knowledge he might think I was
in league against him.

"The girl, then, suffers equally with the man?"
I said, tightening one of the legs of my easel.

"More. He can keep his body clean; she must
often barter hers in exchange for her life. A woman
doesn't count much in Turkey. This is one of the
things we young men who have seen something of the
outside world--I lived a year in Paris--will improve
when we get the power," and his eyes flashed.

"And yet it is dangerous to help one of them to
escape, is it not?"