“A day in summer, Sidi, when the great heats begin in June? Well, at five in the morning I get up——’
“And light the fire,” I murmured mechanically.
The one eye stared in blank amazement.
“Proceed, Safti. You get up at five. That is very early.”
“The sun rises at a quarter to five.”
“To call you. Well?”
“I eat three fresh figs, and sometimes four. I then mount upon my mule, and I ride very quietly into Biskra to take coffee with my friends.”
“That is half-an-hour’s exercise?”
“About half-an-hour. After taking coffee with my friends we play at dominoes. It is forbidden for the Arabs to play at cards in Biskra. I remain in the café at the corner—”
“I know—by the Garden of the Gazelles!” “—till eleven o’clock, at which time I again mount upon my mule, and return quietly to my home. When I reach there I eat with my wife and children sour milk, bread, and dates from my palm-trees which I have kept from the autumn. At twelve we all go to bed together in a black room.”