“But does not seem very grateful.”
“No,” said the doctor, smiling. “He is ten times as civil to Frank here as he is to me.”
“You ought to have tried Frank’s black dye,” said the professor, laughing.
“Well,” said the doctor, quite seriously, “if I had known as much as I know now I certainly should have followed his example. You see, the best of us at home look down upon a black skin as being worn by a lower type of man.”
“Yes,” replied the professor, “while here a white skin is the mark of the beast. Fortunately, I am getting of a good, wholesome tan colour.”
“You are as dark now as Ibrahim,” said the doctor, looking at his companion searchingly.
“Am I? Well, I suppose I am. So much the better. I want to be as free to come and go as Frank here. I’d say that it is terribly weary work being kept in as I am if it were not that the poor Hakim here is ten times worse off.”
“And bears it all without a murmur,” said Frank, turning to his friend with a look full of the gratitude he felt.
“I don’t mind at all,” said the doctor, smiling. “You two need not fidget about me. I pity you.”
“Why so?” said Frank wonderingly.