trouble him was the adherence of Elias, and he
tried by every means to throw him off.

"We cannot afford a horse for thee," he told the dragoman. "Allah
knows I have enough to do to make the money suffice for the bare
necessaries."

"What did I tell thee?" said Elias cheerfully. "When thou hast hired a
cook and baggage animals, I know, by Allah, there is nothing left. No
matter, I will hire a horse on my own account."

Iskender next informed his friend in confidence that there was no real
intention of going to the Valley of the Kings. It was all a joke
between himself and the Emir.

"Ha, wouldst thou leave me out?" exclaimed Elias, with a laugh. "No,
no, my soul. I am not to be gulled so easily!"

Iskender despaired of ever getting rid of him, when Elias himself
unexpectedly afforded him the opportunity. Two days before the start,
the Emir asked for an account of the arrangements, and Iskender gave
it, in the presence of Elias. His Honour was to ride the horse which
he had lately bought; Elias would provide his own. Iskender himself
would act as cook and waiter and his Honour's body-servant, and also
assist in his functions the single muleteer, who provided three mules
and one horse. A good-sized tent, a little the worse for wear, a
collapsible bed, a table, a chair, and cooking utensils completed an
outfit of which the whole cost amounted to little more than half the
sum which the Frank had assigned as a limit.

The Emir was greatly pleased; not so Elias. When Iskender had made an
end, the dragoman flung up his hands.

"That only!" he cried to heaven; "and for an Emir, a great one, like
our friend here!"

It was a crime unheard of, an abomination! Their beloved would die of
discomfort in a single night. No, that should never be, so long as he
(Elias) enjoyed life and health, with some slight credit among honest
people. He would himself provide two upright men, a cook and a waiter,
at his own expense. He knew them well. They had retired from
business, but they loved him dearly and would come forward willingly,
he felt sure, to save so excellent a prince from vile indignity.

This outpour of his indignation was addressed to Iskender in fierce
Arabic. When his proposal was translated, the Emir pooh-poohed it,
declaring Iskender's arrangement to be all he could desire. Elias
then, in a frenzy, fell down at his feet, imploring him with tears to
reconsider.

"Beeble'll think we're some common f