suddenly come uppermost; he recollected that
this class of discussion was probably taboo.

"You may doubt the existence of Efreets," continued Cairn, "but
neither you nor I can doubt the creative power of thought. If a
trained hypnotist, by sheer concentration, can persuade his subject
that the latter sits upon the brink of a river fishing when actually
he sits upon a platform in a lecture-room, what result should you
expect from a concentration of thousands of native minds upon the idea
that an Efreet is visiting Egypt?"

Sime stared in a dull way peculiar to him.

"Rather a poser," he said. "I have a glimmer of a notion what you
mean."

"Don't you think--"

"If you mean don't I think the result would be the creation of an
Efreet, no, I don't!"

"I hardly mean that, either," replied Cairn, "but this wave of
superstition cannot be entirely unproductive; all that thought energy
directed to one point--"

Sime stood up.

"We shall get out of our depth," he replied conclusively. He
considered the ground of discussion an unhealthy one; this was the
territory adjoining that of insanity.

A fortune-teller from India proffered his services incessantly.

"_Imshi_! _imshi_!" growled Sime.

"Hold on," said Cairn smiling; "this chap is not an Egyptian; let us
ask him if he has heard the rumour respecting the Efreet!"

Sime reseated himself rather unwillingly. The fortune-teller spread
his little carpet and knelt down in order to read the palm of his
hypothetical client, but Cairn waved him aside.

"I don't want my fortune told!" he said; "but I will give you your
fee,"--with a smile at Sime--"for a few minutes' conversation."

"Yes, sir, yes, sir!" The Indian was all attention.

"Why"--Cairn pointed forensically at the fortune-teller--"why is
_Khamsin_ come so early this year?"

The Indian spread his hands, palms upward.

"How should I know?" he replied in his soft, melodious voice. "I am
not of Egypt; I can only say what is told to me by the Egyptians."

"And what is told to you?"

Sime rested his hands upon his knees, bending forward curiously. He
was palpably anxious that Cairn should have confirmation of the Efreet
story from the Indian.

"They tell me, sir,"--the man's voice sank musically low--"that a
thing very evil"--he tapped a long brown finger upon his breast--"not
as I am"--he tapped Sime upon the knee--"not as he, your friend"--he
thrust the long finger at Cairn--"not as you, sir; not a man