The liquid-eyed rascal with the priceless amber necklace then led away the escort, Ahmed included, to some place where they could stall the horses, andside-by-side, lest any question of precedence should be involved, Anazeh and I followed ben Nazir into the house.

Watch him as he awakens the echoes of the quarter by repeating in the most melancholy tones Ali's famous gift of his sons to the beggars of the Hegira or some other great tradition of the generosity of Ali, set to verse for the special behoof of his brotherhood by some needy poetaster like the famous Nazir of Agra.

Now he offered me one of the chairs, took the other himself, and motioned ben Nazir to a cushion near the window.