MORE TUR HUNTING 205 



gone in misogyny, misanthropy, and unhappy things of 

 the kind, who at once set to work on the quaintest cate- 

 chetical examination of Kenneth, which Cecily trans- 

 lated for me as they went along. 



" What are these papers ? " 



" Passports," said my cousin laconically. 



" And these people ? " indicating Cecily and me. 



" English, like myself." 



" How am I to know that ? You speak Russian. 

 Why should the English wish to ride about the country 

 in this manner ? " 



" We have been in the mountains — after tur, you 

 understand ? " 



" That I do not. Your wives — what have they to do 

 with tur ? There must be a better reason for your 

 travel ? " 



" That is our reason, tur, and to see the Caucasus." 



" Ha ! You wish to see the Caucasus. For what 

 reason ? You wish to write about it in the papers. 

 You have already written ! " And before Kenneth 

 could arrest him the old man had nipped a red book 

 out of an open pocket. 



" That is The Ruhdiydt of Omar Khayyam, sir, if 

 you must know," said my cousin, with rising temper. 



" A Persian Khan ! We do not like him. We have 

 nothing to do with Persians here. What else have 

 you ? " 



" Nothing, I fancy, to interest you, unless you 

 appreciate good rifles and an average camera." 



" Who gave you permission to carry these things ? " 



Our permits unfolded, the old man lapsed into deep 



