"Very well then! Get a small, light boat. We shall go more quickly in that. How long is Baroudi going to stay?"
"I dunno."
"Try to find out. Is Hamza with him?"
Ibrahim looked vicious.
"Hamza him there. But Hamza very bad boy. I not speak any more to Hamza."
"Don't forget! Directly after dinner."
She shut and relocked the door.
She took a hot bath, let down her hair, got into a wrapper, lay down, and tried to rest. But her body twitched with desire for active movement, almost worn out though she was. Again and again she got up, went out to the terrace, and looked at the Loulia. She took her glasses and tried to discern Baroudi on the upper deck. But she could not see him. Presently she pulled a long chair out to the balcony, and was just going to lie down on it when she heard a knock on the door.
"Ruby!"
It was Nigel. She felt inclined to rush across the room, to open the door, to seize him by the shoulders and thrust him out of the house, out of her life for ever.