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with his cigarette tobacco； rolling it gently between his brown fingers。
Then he said：
〃You know I am in debt now； and I want to pay off all I owe； and leave
here。〃
〃Yes； that's true； but you won't pay off your debts by tramping the
streets； and your little cafe at Benhur will be a long time building； I fancy。
Meanwhile there is money to be made at the Penny…farthing Shop。〃
〃What are your terms？〃 asked Gregorio； roughly。
The woman laughed； but did not answer。 The stars were shining； and
the kempsin that had blown all day was dead。 It was cool sitting outside
the door of the cafe under the little awning； and pleasant to watch the blue
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cigarette smoke float upward in the still air。 Gregorio sat for a while silent；
and the woman came and stood by him。 〃You know my terms；〃 she
whispered； and Gregorio smiled； took her hand； and kissed her。 At that
moment the blind of the opposite house was flung back。 Xantippe leaned
out of the window and saw them。
VI BABY AND JEW
When the Penny…farthing Shop began to fill Gregorio disappeared
quietly by the back door。 He muttered a half…unintelligible answer to the
men who were playing cards in the dim parlour through which he had to
pass； who called to him to join them。 Gaining the street； he wandered
along till he reached the bazaars； intending to waste an hour or two until
Xantippe should have left the house。 Then he determined to go back and
see the boy in whom all his hopes and ambitions were centered； who was
the unconscious cause of his villainy and degradation。
There was a large crowd in the bazaars； for a Moolid was being
celebrated。 Jugglers； snake…charmers； mountebanks； gipsies； and dancing…
girls attracted hundreds of spectators。
The old men sat in the shadows of their stalls； smoking and drinking
coffee。 They smiled gravely at the younger people； who jostled one
another good…humouredly； laughing； singing； quarrelling like children。
Across the roadway hung lamps of coloured glass and tiny red flags
stamped with a white crescent and a star。 Torches blazed at intervals；
casting a flickering glow on the excited faces of the crowd。
Gregorio watched without much interest。 He had seen a great many
fantasias since he came to Egypt； and they were no longer a novelty to him。
He was annoyed that a race of people whom he despised should be so
merry when he himself had so many troubles to worry him。 He would
have liked to go into one of the booths where the girls danced； but he had
no money； and he cursed at his stupidity in not asking the Marx woman for
some。 He no longer felt ashamed of himself； for he argued that he was the
victim of circumstances。 Still he wished Xantippe had not looked out of
the window； though of course he could easily explain things to her。 And
Xantippe was really so angry the night before； explanations were better
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postponed for a time。 〃After all；〃 he thought； 〃it really does not much
matter。 Once we get over our present difficulties we shall forget all we
have gone through。〃 This comfortable reflection had been doing duty
pretty often the last day or two； and though Gregorio did not believe it a
bit； he always felt it was a satisfactory conclusion； and one to be
encouraged。
Meanwhile he would not meet Xantippe。 That was a point upon which
he had definitely made up his mind。 As he strolled through the bazaars；
putting into order his vagabond thoughts； in a tall figure a few yards in
front of him he recognised Amos。 Nervous； he halted； for he had no desire
to be interviewed by the Jew； and yet no way of escape seemed possible。
Nodding affably to the proprietor； he sat down on the floor of a shop
hard by and watched Amos。 The old man was evidently interested； for he
was laughing pleasantly； and bending down to look at something on the
ground。 What it was Gregorio could not see。 A knot of people； also
laughing； surrounded the Jew。 Gregorio was curious to see what attracted
them； but fearful of being recognised by the old man。 However； after a few
moments his impatience mastered him； and he stepped up to the group。
〃What is it？〃 he asked one of the bystanders。
〃Only a baby。 It's lost； I think。〃
Gregorio pushed his way into the centre of the crowd and suddenly
became white as death。
There； seated on the ground； was his own child； laughing and talking
to himself in a queer mixture of Greek and Arabic。 Amos was bending
kindly over the youngster； giving him cakes and sweets； and making
inquiries as to the parents。
A chill fear seized on Gregorio's heart。 He could not have explained
the cause； nor did he stay and try to explain it。 Quickly he broke into the
midst of the circle and； catching up the boy in his arms； ran swiftly away。
Having reached home； he kissed the boy passionately； sent for food to
Madam Marx； and wept and laughed hysterically for an hour。 After a time
the boy slept； and Gregorio then paced up and down the room； smoking；
and puffing great clouds of smoke from his mouth； trying to calm himself。
But he could not throw off his excitement。 He imagined the awful home…
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coming had he not been to the bazaar； and he wondered what he would
have done then。 A great joy possessed him to see his son safe； and a fierce
desire filled him to know who had taken the child away。 He longed for
Xantippe's return that he might tell her。 He forgot completely that he had
dreaded seeing her earlier this evening。 Then he began to wonder what
Amos was doing at the fantasia； and why he was so interested in the boy。
Perhaps； Amos would forgive the debt for love of the child。 The idea
pleased him； but he soon came to understand that it was untenable。 Oftener；
indeed； he shuddered as he recalled the old man's figure bent over the
infant。 A sense of danger to