"This poor creature wore a long cloak made out of all sorts of bits, a
weird Joseph's coat of many colours. His tall staff was hanging with
tattered rags and his poor turban was in the last stages of decay."
Millicent's voice betokened genuine pity. "He looked terribly thin and
tired. I ought to have given him some food--he wouldn't accept money. I
don't think he grasped its meaning."

Michael's thoughts were busy. "A little child will lead you, do not
despise the favoured of God--their wealth is laid up for them in heaven."

And so they journeyed on, Millicent pleased at the result of her
conversation, it had set Michael dreaming.

"They have lots of beautiful ideas," she said. She meant Moslems
generally, not only the simples or religious fanatics.

"Yes," Michael said. "No religion has more lofty or beautiful ideas and
ideals."

"You don't think their ideas are often put into practice?"

"I don't know," Michael said. "It isn't fair to judge--the Western mind
can't. Their ideas are beautiful and in obeying the laws laid down by
the Koran they do beautiful and kindly acts; at the same time, their
minds to us seem terribly polluted. Their religion doesn't appear to
elevate their general aims or thoughts of life."

"But isn't it the same with the greater portion of Christians, with many
of what we call religious people?" Millicent laughed. "I know it is
with myself, Mike. I go to church and say my prayers and I think I
believe in all the tenets of the Church and in the Bible--at least, I'd
be frightened to not believe--and yet it doesn't make me feel a bit
better. I don't really want to be good. I want to eat my cake on this
earth and have it in heaven as well. All the nicest plums with you,
Mike!"

Michael laughed. Millicent was always so frank upon the subject of her
own worthlessness.

"We don't know what these people would be like if they had no Koran to
curb them," Millicent said. "It may do more than you think. It's a
strong bearing-rein."

"That's true. The Egyptians are, I suppose, about the most sensual of
all Easterns--the women are considered so, at any rate, by Lane, and he
knew them intimately."

Millicent laughed. "I'm sure they are, speaking generally--that's to
say, I suppose you meet exceptions here and there, as in all other
countries."

"The Prophet had his work cut out," Michael said. "And the world doesn't
give him half the credit he deserves. The rules he lai