Why?

ARCHIE BEAL

Because I should so awfully want to pay it.

MIRALDA

I see.

ARCHIE BEAL

That’s all I meant.

MIRALDA

Does Hussein awfully want to pay it?

ARCHIE BEAL

Well, no.  But he hasn’t seen you yet.  He will then, of course.

[Enter Daoud.  He goes to the unholy heap.]

JOHN BEAL

Daoud, for the present these gods must stay.  Aho-oomlah’s gone, but the rest must stay for the present.

DAOUD

Even so, great master.

JOHN BEAL

Daoud, go once more to the palace of the Lord of the Pass and beat the outer door.  Say that the great lady herself would see him.  The great lady, Miss Clement, the white traveller’s heiress.

DAOUD

Yes, master.

JOHN BEAL

Hasten.

[Exit Daoud.]

I have sent him for Hussein.

MIRALDA

I don’t know their language.

JOHN BEAL

You will see him, and I’ll tell you what he says.

Miralda [to Archie]

Have you been here long?

ARCHIE BEAL

No.  I think he wrote to me by the same mail as he wrote to you (if they have mails here).  I came at once.

MIRALDA

So did I; but you weren’t on the Empress of Switzerland.

ARCHIE BEAL

No, I came round more by land.

JOHN BEAL

You know, I hardly like bringing Hussein in here to see you.  He’s such a—­he’s rather a . . .

MIRALDA

What’s the matter with him?

JOHN BEAL

Well, he’s rather of the brigand type, and one doesn’t know what he’ll do.

MIRALDA

Well, we must see him first and hear what he has to say before we take any steps.

JOHN BEAL

But what do you propose to do?

MIRALDA