"For what sum each day will you give us board and a good room to sleep in ?" "These strangers," she said in Arabic to the porter, "do not speak the truth." "What is that to you ?" he answered, as he busied himself in loosening the baggage.

"They will pay their score, and all sorts of mad folk come to this country, pretending to be what they are not.

Also you sought them--why, I know not--not they you." "Mad or sane, they are proper men," said the impassive woman, as though to herself, then added in French, "Sirs, I repeat, this is but a humble place, scarce fit for knights like you, but if you will honour it, the charge is--so much." "We are satisfied," said Godwin, "especially," he added, with a bow and removing the cap from his head, "as, having brought us here without leave asked, we are sure that you will treat us who are strangers kindly." "As kindly as you wish--I mean as you can pay for," said the woman.

"Nay, I will settle with the porter; he would cheat you." Then followed a wrangle five minutes long between this curious, handsome, still-faced woman and the porter who, after the eastern fashion, lashed himself into a frenzy over the sum she offered, and at length began to call her by ill names.
She stood looking at him quite unmoved, although Godwin, who understood all, but pretended to understand nothing, wondered at her patience.

Presently, however, in a perfect foam of passion he said, or rather spat out: "No wonder, Masouda the Spy, that after hiring me to do your evil work, you take the part of these Christian dogs against a true believer, you child of Al-je-bal!" Instantly the woman seemed to stiffen like a snake about to strike.
"Who is he ?" she said coldly.