It consisted of one daughter by a first wife, long dead, and three sons by a second wife, still living.

They were not altogether a happy household, and the chief apparent cause of discord was the child of the first wife in the home of the second.

Oliel was a man of quick perception, and he saw the difficulty.

That was how it came about that he was married to Sara.

When he returned to Morocco he was some thousand pounds richer than when he left it, and he had a capable and personable wife into his bargain.
Oliel was a self-centred and silent man, absorbed in getting and spending, always taking care to have much of the one, and no more than he could help of the other.