But the cook soon
hastened away to decapitate certain skinny fowls which would form the
basis of a Risotto al pollastro for dinner at the officer's mess,
leaving Mulai Hamed to wonder if, perhaps, the tall Effendi had also
been kept in durance vile, until he saw Mr. Fenshawe and Royson being
whirled off in the Governor's carriage along the sea front.
He cursed both of them in suitable terms, and started on the long walk
to the hotel. Being a born gossip, he chose the livelier route of the
main street, which might yield a meeting with another acquaintance.
This divergence led him near the Elephant Mosque. Abdullah, wearied of
the rendezvous arranged by Mrs. Haxton for von Kerber, detected Mulai
Hamed's badge, and sought information.
"Brother," said he, "I would have speech of thee." "Say on," was the
courteous reply, for Mulai Hamed was flattered at being addressed thus
by a man of distinction.
"There be certain Giaours at thy caravanserai, an old man, a fat man
like a bull, a young man who stands more than a cubit high, and a thin
man, the Hakim Effendi, whom I await here.
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