"It is certainly a surprise," Michael said. "Where are you going?"
"Whither thou goest, I will go," she said laughingly. "Where do you suppose I am going?"
"This is absurd, Millicent!" Michael lowered his voice.
"Why absurd? The desert's big enough for us both, isn't it?"
"I should have thought it sufficiently big to have made our meeting unnecessary."
"Now, Mike, don't be an ungracious pig! Here I am and here I mean to stay. I won't bother you, so just be nice."
The mules and camels of both parties had met. The men had joined forces and much talking was going on amongst the natives.
"Have you come alone?" Michael asked.
"My dragoman is with me."
"Of course," Mike said. "I know that. But are you by yourself, without any other European?"