COMPANY AT THE INN 81 



long tables ; the vulturine fowls sought the shelter 

 of the pomegranate, the most beautiful thing in 

 the inn. The three ladies repaired to some youthful 

 guests' rooms, whence came the twanging of instru- 

 ments ; the monotonous, irritating scrape of a 

 native violin mingled with an affected falsetto 

 voice. Men shouted to each other in the gloom, 

 and a dog yelped dismally as it shot wildly through 

 the gates into the dusty street beyond. 



