"Achmet salaams to you, hanoum," he said presently. "You have won his heart of a true believer. Even Daoud demands daily news of you."
"I particularly like The Jinnee. I should like to have him around me. And Daoud is highly ornamental."
"When is The Author coming back? Or is he coming back?" he asked abruptly.
"Oh, yes. He will be here for the wedding. So will Miss Emmeline."
After a long pause, and with an evident effort:
"I have been thinking," he said, "that perhaps it was unfortunate I came between you and The Author. Perhaps," he added deliberately, "it would have been better had you let your common sense gain the day."
I don't know why, but just at that moment the dear and haunting dream of having been lifted out of deep waters and kissed back to life, cradled in this man's arms, came to me with peculiar poignancy. Of a sudden I laughed aloud.
"Oh, I'm just remembering a dream I had, when I was ill," I told him, in answer to his look of surprise.
"It must have been a very amusing dream," said he, staring at me thoughtfully.
"Oh, very! Quite absurd. But go on. You were by way of advising me to marry The Author, were you not?"