But there was a smile hovering round her
lips as she murmured to herself, "Ah, well, in time."
Gregorio meanwhile had run up to his room and entered it breathless with
excitement. The first glance told him that Amos had seized all he
could, for nothing remained save a wooden bench and one or two coarse,
half-disabled cooking utensils.
Gregorio swore a little as he realised what had happened. Then he saw in
a corner by the window his son and Ahmed.
"She has gone," said Ahmed, as Gregorio's gaze rested on him. But she
might have gone merely to market, or to see a neighbour, for all the
imperturbable Arab face disclosed. As soon as he had spoken the man bent
over the child, laughing softly as the youngster played with his beard.
For the Arab, as he is miscalled, is fond of children, and there are
none to whom children take so readily as to the Egyptian fellahin.
Gregorio watched the two for a moment, and then placing his remaining
piastres in the man's hand bade him bring food and wine. As soon as
he was left alone with his son, he flung himself down on the floor and
kissed, "You shall be a great man, ay, a rich man, my son.
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