"I am an Austrian," he answered. Then he lowered his voice, in that mysterious manner which we associated with the coming of the Monster. "I am here," he said, in an undertone, "as agent commercial du chemin de fer Ottoman."
"Very good," I answered; "and now tell us why we cannot camp here."
"But it is damp," he said; "look at the mud."
"Oh, is that all?" I said. "We are much obliged to you for the offer of your house, but we always sleep out."
"But I have good beds," he said, "and a dry room at your service. There is nothing to say."
At this point Rejeb could contain himself no longer. He spoke sternly to the Austrian in Turkish.
"What do you want?" he said. "These ladies are under my protection. What are you saying to them?"
The man poured out volumes of Turkish; Rejeb and he had a violent altercation, which seemed to be ending in blows.
"Come, come," I said to the man, "enough of this. We are much obliged to you for your offer of hospitality, but we prefer to remain outside."
He seemed totally unable to understand that this could be the case. "If it is myself you do not care about," he said, in a crestfallen manner, "I can easily move from the house. The beds are clean and they are dry."