"The whole vessel is lighted up," he added.
"Is she? Perhaps Baroudi has come up the river."
"Looks like it," said Isaacson.
He crossed, then uncrossed his legs. Never before had he felt himself to be a coward. He knew what he must do. He knew he would do it before Nigel and he went into the room behind them. Yet he could not force himself to begin. He thought, "When I've smoked out this cigar."
"You've never seen Baroudi," Nigel said. "He's one of the handsomest fellows I've ever clapped eyes on. As strong as a bull, I should think; enormously rich. A very good chap, too, I should say. But I don't fancy my wife liked him. He's hardly a woman's man."
"Why d'you think that?"
"I don't know. His manner, perhaps. And he doesn't seem to bother about them. But we only saw him about twice, except on the ship coming out. He dined here one night, and the next day we went over the Loulia with him, and we've never set eyes on him since. He went up river, and we went down, to the Fayyūm."
"But—but you went off alone to the Fayyūm, didn't you? At first, I mean?"
"Oh, yes. The morning after Baroudi had sailed for Armant."
"And Mrs. Armine was alone here for some time?"