'I get the horses ready.' 'And yet,' said our preceptor thoughtfully, 'his Excellency is, they say, a charming man; and this would be a golden opportunity for us to get acquainted with him and bespeak his favour.

Thus the Sheykh Yusuf, though himself contemptible, may be of service to us.

Already I have told the people here that we have come on an important errand to the Governor.

Rashid, too, as I know, has spoken of the matter in a boastful way.

If, after that, we should depart in dudgeon without seeing him, there would be gossip and perhaps--God knows--even political disturbance.