"I never counted on smooth times," returned Tufnell; "besides, being used to roughing it, I am always glad to do so in a good cause. My palace, as you see, is not a bad one, though small. It is pretty hot too, as you seem to feel; and they tell me there will be some interesting variety in my experiences when the rainy season sets in! I wouldn't mind it so much if I could only be left to sleep in peace at nights. I stay here, you see, night and day, and what wi' the Arabs prowling around, whispering and trying to get in, and the wild dogs makin' the neighbourhood a place o' public meeting--barking, howling, and quarrelling over their sorrows like human bein's, they don't give me much rest." "I have read of these dogs before," said Miles. "Are they really as wild and dangerous as they get credit for?" "If you'd seen the fight I had wi' them the other night you'd have no doubt on that point. Why, a gang of 'em made a regular attack on me, and if it hadn't been that I was pretty active with my sword-stick, they'd have torn me in bits. Let me advise you never to go out after nightfall without one. Is that one in your hand?" "No, it is merely a cane." "Well, exchange with me. There's no saying when you may want it." Tufnell took a light sword-stick which lay on the table and handed it to Miles, who accepted it laughingly, and without the slightest belief that he should ever have occasion to use it. In chatting about the plans of the building and the prospects of success, our hero became at last so deeply interested--partly, no doubt, because of his friend's enthusiasm--that he forgot the flight of time, and the evening was advancing before he rose to leave. "Now, Tufnell," he said suddenly, "I must be off, I have another call of importance to make." "What! won't you stop and have a cup of coffee with me?" "Impossible. My business is urgent. I want to see friends whom I may not have the chance of seeing again. Good-night." "Good-night, then, and have a care of the dogs, specially after nightfall." On returning to the hotel shortly after sunset, Miles came to the conclusion that his love must certainly be "true," for its course was not running "smooth." His friends had not yet returned. Mrs Drew had indeed come back, alone in a cab, but she had "von headik an' vas go to the bed." Waiting about in front of the hotel for an hoar or two proved to be too much for our hero's nerves; he therefore made up his mind to exhaust his nervous system by means of a smart walk. Soon he found himself in a lonely place, half-way between the Grand Square and the Ramleh Gate, with a deliciously cool breeze playing on his brow, and a full moon sailing overhead.