56 AN EGYPTIAN SNAKE CHARMER 



windows, and shaking his head in a manner which was far 

 from encouraging. 



The French Consul just then was a Monsieur Dela- 

 porte, and after a time the report reached him that the 

 Consulate was infested by snakes. 



Now, in the course of business, M. Delaporte had 

 come across a good many centipedes, and a certain 

 number of scorpions, but not even the tiniest little asp ; 

 so that he had considerable doubts as to the truth of the 

 snake charmer's story. However, at the wish of some 

 anxious friends who trembled at the dangers he might be 

 running, M. Delaporte at last consented to send for Abd- 

 el-Kerim. 



The snake charmer was a man between fifty and sixty 

 years of age, clad in a green turban and black robe — 

 grave and dignified — as became his age and profession. 



He saluted Delaporte by ci-ossing his hands over his 

 breast, and bowing low before him. Then he waited to 

 be questioned. 



' I have sent for you,' said the Consul, who spoke 

 Arabic like a native, ' because I hear a report that there 

 are several sei'pents in the house.' 



The Arab turned his face to the wind, sniffed it up 

 several times, and answered gravely : ' It is true : there 

 are.' 



' Oh, indeed ! There are serpents ? ' 



' Yes.' And the snake charmer sniffed again, and 

 added, after a moment : 



' I may even say that there are several — six of them 

 at least.' 



' You surprise me ! ' said Delaporte ; ' and you will 

 undertake to destroy them ? ' 



' I will call them, and they will come.' 



' Do so ; I should like to see that.' 



' You shall see it.' 



So Abd-el-Kerim went out from the Consul's room, 

 where this conversation had been held, aiid fetched in his 



