inner," snapped Sime, "if we shut
up talking nonsense! There's a carnival here to-night; great fun.
Suppose we concentrate our brain-waves on another Scotch and soda?"

CHAPTER XII

THE MASK OF SET

Above the palm trees swept the jewelled vault of Egypt's sky, and set
amid the clustering leaves gleamed little red electric lamps; fairy
lanterns outlined the winding paths and paper Japanese lamps hung
dancing in long rows, whilst in the centre of the enchanted garden a
fountain spurned diamond spray high in the air, to fall back coolly
plashing into the marble home of the golden carp. The rustling of
innumerable feet upon the sandy pathway and the ceaseless murmur of
voices, with pealing laughter rising above all, could be heard amid
the strains of the military band ensconced in a flower-covered arbour.

Into the brightly lighted places and back into the luminous shadows
came and went fantastic forms. Sheikhs there were with flowing robes,
dragomans who spoke no Arabic, Sultans and priests of Ancient Egypt,
going arm-in-arm. Dancing girls of old Thebes, and harem ladies in
silken trousers and high-heeled red shoes. Queens of Babylon and
Cleopatras, many Geishas and desert Gypsies mingled, specks in a giant
kaleidoscope. The thick carpet of confetti rustled to the tread; girls
ran screaming before those who pursued them armed with handfuls of the
tiny paper disks. Pipers of a Highland regiment marched piping through
the throng, their Scottish kilts seeming wildly incongruous amid such
a scene. Within the hotel, where the mosque lanterns glowed, one might
catch a glimpse of the heads of dancers gliding shadowlike.

"A tremendous crowd," said Sime, "considering it is nearly the end of
the season."

Three silken ladies wearing gauzy white _yashmaks_ confronted Cairn
and the speaker. A gleaming of jewelled fingers there was and Cairn
found himself half-choked with confetti, which filled his eyes, his
nose, his ears, and of which quite a liberal amount found access to
his mouth. The three ladies of the _yashmak_ ran screaming from their
vengeance-seeking victims, Sime pursuing two, and Cairn hard upon the
heels of the third. Amid this scene of riotous carnival all else was
forgotten, and only the madness, the infectious madness of the night,
claimed his mind. In and out of the strangely attired groups darted
his agile quarry, all but captured a score of times, but always
eluding him.

Sime he had hopelessly los