“Why not?”
“Well—er—ahem!—I prefer to remain here in Cairo. I am quite contented. I have visited the Pyramids, seen the Castle of the Nile, wandered through the Alabaster Mosque, viewed the Tombs of the Caliphs, and peered into the Haunted House of the Afrit. I am satisfied. I’m willing to be quiet and rest. I’ll stay right here while you take an excursion up the river.”
Dick winked at Brad.
“What’s the attraction that interests you so much in Cairo?” he asked.
“Oh, no—no attraction,” Zenas hastened to declare. “Nothing at all. I’m contented, that’s all.”
Merriwell was puzzled, for he felt that there was something behind the old man’s strange contentment in that foreign city.
“Well, I don’t think Brad and I will go off on any excursion by ourselves.”
“Why not take Budthorne and Nadia along? That’s a good idea. They’ll enjoy it.”
“I believe you are anxious to get rid of us. There’s something doing, Brad.”
“Sure thing, pard,” agreed the Texan.