Ebbek took the girl’s arm to lead her away. As she passed Kāra she halted to say, with despairing intensity:
“I hate you! Some day I will kill you.”
Kāra laughed. He was in a pleased mood.
“Good-by, Nephthys,” he rejoined, complacently. “Tell Sĕra I present you to her with my compliments.”
Then he left the room and found Tadros standing stiffly outside the door.
“Follow me,” he said, and the dragoman obeyed.
He led the way to his own room and sat down facing the dragoman.
Tadros remained standing. He held in his hand the stump of a half-burned cigarette, which he eyed critically and with an air of absorbing interest.
Kāra, being amused, remained silent.
After a time the dragoman coughed to clear his throat.