“It is Signor Ussi,” answered Ducali; “a distinguished painter.”
“Does he paint with the machine?” asked the young man. He meant the photographic instrument.
“No, Signore,” replied the interpreter; “he paints with his hand.”
He seemed to say to himself, “What a pity!” and remained a moment thoughtful. Then he said, “I asked, because with the machine the work is more precise.”
The commandant begged Ducali to ask him whereabouts in Fez was the fountain called Ghalù, after a robber whom Edris, the founder of the city, had caused to be nailed to a tree near by. The young secretary was excessively astonished that the commandant should know this particular story, and asked how he came to know it.
“I read it in Kaldun’s history,” answered the commandant.
“In Kaldun’s history!” exclaimed the other. “Have you read Kaldun? Then you understand Arabic? And where did you find Kaldun’s history?”
The commandant replied that the book was to be found in all our cities; that it was perfectly well known in Europe, and that it had been translated into English, French, and German.
Moor Of Fez.