“‘Your friend is young.’
“‘Marnier?’
“‘Is that his name? Well, I would not leave him to stroll about too much alone, if I were you.’
“‘Why, monsieur?’
“‘He is likely to get into trouble. The people here are a wild and violent race. He would do well to bear in mind the saying of a traveller who knew the desert men better than most people:
“If you want to be friendly with them, and safe among them, give cigarettes to the men, and leave the women alone.
“‘I see a good deal, monsieur, owing to the situation of my little house.’
“I looked at him in silence. Then I said:
“‘What have you seen?’
“He led me to the door, and pointed towards the great dune beyond the dancing-house.