unsteady,
seized the landlord by the breast of his gaberdine. He lifted an
admonishing finger, saying:

"You hold your row, Mr. Karlsberger. You go to Blazes, my fery good
friend!"

The Jew, who knew no English, accepted the assurance and retired.

The musician struck into another tune, but soon desisted, finding his
art forgotten in a general clamour of conversation, every one
addressing the Frank, who, after looking from one to another at a loss,
gave ear to Yuhanna Mahbub, who sat next him. Yuhanna, like Elias, had
partaken of the rum and gin. He struck a vein of amorous reminiscence,
and began boasting of his conquests among English ladies. Abdullah
sharply bade him hold his tongue.

"He is a boaster, sir, and neffer did nothing what he say he did," said
that respectable man in explanation to the visitor. "If he really done
such things, he neffer sbeak about them, that sure; he know he get the
sack for such a shame."

"Shame!" chorused Elias with a reproachful shake of the head. "Hear,
hear! Order, order! By God, you are a nasty beast, Yuhanna."

As he spoke he poured out rum into a tumbler, without looking, till the
glass was half full.

Iskender, seeing the disgust in the Frank's face deepen, waxed
exultant. It was time to leave now, while that look endured. He
caught his uncle's eye. The old man nodded.

"It is time that we dispersed," he said in Arabic, "unless we wish to
get wet through. See how the sky has clouded over while we sat here.
Remember, it is the year's first rain, which means a deluge."

"He speaks truth"--"Rain is coming"--"See the clouds," cried one and
another, peering out on the world. The company obeyed the motion of
its acknowledged sheykh, all save Elias, who had got beyond the reach
of all authority.

"You think I'm goin' yet, you silly ole fool!" he cried in English.
"No dam' jolly fear! I haf not yet talk to my friend, this nice kind
mister!"

And holding in one hand the glass half full of rum, he staggered to the
sofa, till then sacred to the Emir, and sank down on it with a
contented hiccup.

"My dear luffed friend, now we talk a little. The rest, they go to
Hell," he said; and tried to kiss the Frank.

He measured his length on the floor, the tumbler was broken, the rum
spilt. In a moment the whole room was in an uproar. All who could get
near enough tendered abject apologies to the guest for their
companion's rudeness; while those debarred by concou