“Ah, I forgot that,” said the old man, smiling gravely. “It is very good indeed; but can you keep this painful silence?”
Frank bowed his head slowly, and pointed to the divan for the Sheikh to take his seat, the young man preserving his erect position of respect the while.
“It is soon to begin, Excellency,” said the Sheikh smiling, “but you must be Excellency no more till our work is done; only in my heart. What name will you bear?”
“Frank!” cried the doctor from the inner tent, and the Sheikh smiled, but the young man shook his head violently. “Tell the Sheikh I shall be with him in a minute.”
“I am waiting patiently, Excellency,” said the old man aloud. Then turning to Frank, “Suppose we say Ben Eddin?”
Frank nodded and smiled.
“Let it be so, then, Ben Eddin, my son, slave to the learned Hakim, with whom you have been so long that you understand his Frankish tongue. I have lain awake thinking many hours about the Hakim’s other slave, and I feel that it would be wise that he should be his Frankish slave. There will be no mistake then. He can wear our burnoose and haïk; they will be enough. It is quite right that he should have brought a servant from his own country. What say you, Ben Eddin?”
Frank bowed his head gravely at once, and the Sheikh smiled his satisfaction, before springing up quickly, and forgetting his grave manner he clapped his hands together, applauding, and then bowing low to the grave and reverend Hakim who entered the tent slowly in flowing white garments and voluminous turban, in front of which was fastened a large, dark green scarab, a genuine treasure found by the professor in the tomb of a man who was supposed to have been physician to one of the Egyptian kings. It had been intended to form a brooch, and the doctor had had it set in gold. This he had taken from among his curios as being most suitable for the purpose in hand, and it took the Sheikh’s attention at once.
“Well, Ibrahim,” said the doctor, slowly removing his turban as if to place it more comfortably, but holding it long enough for the Arab to see his closely shaven head; “do you think this will do?”
“It is perfect, Excellency,” said the old man warmly. “It far exceeds all I could have thought possible.”