"A truly wonderful story," rejoined the Emîr.
Their walk had ended on the sea-beach, where they now, all three, lay stretched upon the sand. The Emîr, with his straw hat tipped over his eyes, threw a stone from time to time into the azure ripples, as dark in contrast with their foam as ink on paper. There was a moment's silence. Iskender whispered in his lord's ear:
"It is all a lie. He made it up last night."
"There may be some truth in it; you never know!" replied the Emîr in the same tone. He added aloud for Elias, who was staring fixedly out on the sea, still entranced by the vision he had just related:
"If the place is guarded by nothing more terrible than your genis, I should like to go there."
"Ha, ha!" laughed Elias. "That's all tommy-rot about the jinnis." Nevertheless he glanced around in haste, and muttered an exorcist formula beneath his breath. "The Bedouins they're more real to be afraid of. But neffer say die; you square them easy with a few dollars. Iskender, he know the way there, so all serene!"
"I told Elias all about it, sir, last night," said Iskender sheepishly, in reply to a glance of surprise.
"Yes, sir, he tell me, and I'm goin' to helb you all I can. Trust Elias, sir, he knows his way about!"
"Well," said the Emîr after a little meditation, "I feel inclined for the adventure, provided always that it doesn't cost too much."
"We soon see what that's a-going to cost."