"Well, I'm glad I do. You think these savages will think so too, and
that I am the real thing?"

"Oh, yes. Look at the Hakim."

"Sha'n't! I've been looking till I feel ashamed of him."

"Ashamed?" said the Sheikh. "Why?"

"Dressed up like that! Him a first-class London surgeon and M.D., with
Palladium Club and Wimpole Street on his card. I tell you I'm ashamed
of him, and I'm ashamed of myself, and I ain't sure now that it isn't
all a dream."

"I do not understand," said the Sheikh coldly.

"You can't, Mr Abrahams. You're a very nice, civil old gentleman, and
I like you, and I'm much obliged for lots of good turns you've done me;
but you see you've never been to London, and don't know what's what."

"No," said the Sheikh; "I have never been to London yet, but I have
often thought of going with some family, for I have been asked twice.
But if I do come I shall try to see you, Mr Samuel."

"Glad to see you, old chap, any time," said Sam warmly; "and if you do
come I'll show you what our country's like."

"Thank you, Mr Samuel," said the Sheikh, smiling pleasantly; "and if I
do come I shall dress as you English do; but I will not be ashamed of
it."

"Here, you're going on the wrong road, old gentleman," said Sam. "I'm
not ashamed of the nightgown and nightcap. They're cool and
comfortable. It's seeing the guv'nor dressed up, and him and me and Mr
Frank and Mr Landon in this procession. Do you know how I feel just
now?"

"Thirsty?" said the Sheikh, smiling.

"Well, pretty tidy. I shall be worse soon. But if you come to that,
I've been thirsty ever since I came to Egypt. I mean I feel as if I'd
come down to a cheap circus, and we were going into a country town where
the big tent had been set up, and that by and by we should be all riding
round the ring doing Mazeppa and the Wild Horse, or Timour the Tartar;
stalls a shilling covered with red cloth; gallery thruppence."

The Sheikh stared wonderingly, and then shook his head.

"I do not understand, Mr Samuel," he said.

"Of course you don't, sir. How can you, seeing that you've picked up
what you know by accident like, and not had a regular English education?
There, it's all right. It was only a growl, and I'm better now."

"But you said you were ashamed of the Hakim."

"I said so, but I ain't, Mr Abrahams. He's splendid ain't he?"

"He is grand," said the Sheikh earnestly. "His power, his knowledge--it
is wonderful!"

"That's righ