"I beg your pardon," he repeated, "but I could not accept anything for what is but my duty. I am only very glad to do what I may for you. I will do something more, if you wish."
Then, of course, I knew it must be a dream, and that I would wake up presently in Shepheard's Hotel to find that we hadn't started for the Pyramids yet. Still, I would keep up the blessed trance a moment longer.
"You mean that you will not allow me to acknowledge your great favor to us?" I said in that polite manner for which our ship is justly famous.
"Not in money," he said. "The Government pays me a salary for my work and this is only part of my work. It has also given me pleasure."
I surreptitiously pinched myself in certain tender places to see if I couldn't wake up. It was no use. He persisted in his refusal, and presently produced an ancient corroded coin, Greek or Roman, such as is sometimes found among the débris.
"I should like to offer you this," he said. "I found it myself, so I am sure it is genuine."
Ah, this was the delicate opportunity.
"You will let me buy it, of course."
But no, he declined that, too. He wished us only to remember him, he insisted. He added:
"I have two scarabs at home; I should like to bring them to your hotel."