PORT SAID. 29 



The professor shook with one of his cavernous 

 chuckles. 



" Too much," he observed, and handed the 

 necklace back through the window. 



The Egyptian would by no means receive 

 it. 



" Keep ! keep ! " he implored, thrusting the 

 mass of red upon the professor with both 

 hands. " How much you give ? " 



" One shilling," announced the professor firmly. 



The coral necklace lay on the edge of the 

 table throughout most of our leisurely meal. The 

 vendor argued, pleaded, gave it up, disappeared 

 in the crowd, returned dramatically after an 

 interval. The professor ate calmly, chuckled 

 much, and from time to time repeated firmly 

 the words, " One shilling." Finally, at the 

 cheese, he reached out, swept the coral into his 

 pocket, and laid down two shillings. The Egyp- 

 tian deftly gathered the coin, smiled cheerfully, 

 and produced a glittering veil, in which he tried 

 in vain to enlist Billy's interest. 



For coffee and cigars we moved to the ter- 

 race outside. Here an orchestra played, the 

 peoples of many nations sat at little tables, the 

 peddlers, fakirs, jugglers, and fortune-tellers 

 swarmed. A half-dozen postal cards seemed 



