“A literary light, one nearly as large as a moon. He sells an awful lot of books.”
“Of whom are you speaking?” asked Queen Verbeena readily inducting the atmosphere.
“Robert,” the Sheik paused because he was very sure of his grounds, “Hitchings.”
“Literary men,” said Verbeena, “are usually terrible loafers and like late breakfasts but as to Mr. Hitchings I am agreeable. I am fully confident as regards Mr. Hitchings, I don’t mind saying. He is always interesting. I think it was reading his works which started me on this trip.”
“It rejoices me to have you so inclined,” said the Sheik. “And Bob will be pleased.”
“That’s up to him,” smiled Verbeena, taking a heavy smash at the marmalade. “Although I have every confidence that he will give little trouble. From his tales of passion I am certain he is well-behaved. But in view of the event I think, Amut, we should really move to a larger oasis. It’s possible he carries his adjectives with him.”
“Wonderfully thoughtful,” murmured the Sheik.
“What did you say?” asked Verbeena.
“I said, ‘Hello, kid!’”
“Hello,” said Verbeena.