He tossed a vague hand, into which Matthews put the anklet, saying:
"Take it before I steal it!"
"Keep it, won't you?" proposed the astonishing Brazilian.
"Oh, thanks. But I could hardly do that," Matthews replied.
"Why not?" protested Magin. "As a souvenir of a pleasant meeting! I have a ton of them." He waved his hand at the chests.
"No, really, thanks," persisted the young man. "And I'm afraid we must be getting on. I don't know the river, you see, and I'd like to reach Dizful before dark."
The Brazilian studied him a moment.
"As you say," he finally conceded. "But you will at least have another drink before you go?"
"No, not even that, thanks," said Matthews. "We really must be off. But it's been very decent of you."
He felt both awkward and amused as he backed out to the deck, followed by his imposing host. At sight of the two the crew scattered to their oars. They had been leaning over the side, absorbed in admiration of the white jinn-boat. Matthews' Persian servant handed up to Magin's butler a tray of tea glasses—on which Matthews also noted a bottle. In honor of that bottle Gaston himself stood up and took off his greasy cap.