He walked with Ahmed Ismail at his elbow on the green lawns where the golden-crested hoopoes flashed in the sunlight and the ruined buildings stood agape to the air.

Shere Ali walked to the end of the passage, and mounting the stairs found Ahmed Ismail in the doorway of a little room with a lighted lamp in his hand.

Then for a space of time the two men stood silent in the darkness, and both listened intentlyAhmed Ismail for the sound of someone stirring in the house, Shere Ali for a quiet secret movement at his elbow.

Of all the talks, the one that caught my attention was the talk given by Dr Sultan Ismail on earthworms.

" Shere Ali turned Ahmed Ismail towards the inner part of the house and loosed his neck.

He flung away from Ahmed Ismail with a harsh outburst of laughter.