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THE PLAGUE IN EGYPT 37
In due course we arrived at an Egyptian
two-story building abutting on to the street.
After knocking several times, we were
ushered into a dark, musty, dusty sittingroom
on the right. Having sat there for a
few minutes staring at each other, a young
Egyptian man, in native costume and with
slippered feet, came along the passage from
the back of the building. An animated conversation,
punctuated with full- stops and full
stares at me, followed between the Egyptian
and my clerk friend. The young Egyptian
appeared to have been taken by surprise,
and I deemed it prudent to be on the qui
vive to avoid such a contingency happening
to me.
After further debate the clerk intimated to
me that " cash down " was the point at issue.
I handed him a sovereign, showed him another
sovereign, and when fumbling for the coins
"accidentally'' exposed the revolver in my
f
vest pocket.