human
Ah, that is what the brute always does! exclaimed the landlord in his _patois_ of Arabic and the worst _Marseillais_ French.
gpt
One would say his master was there. But the room is empty.
human
Tell me about this animal and what is the matter with it?
gpt
All I know I will tell willingly, replied the man.
human
This white camel was one of a caravan that stopped here perhaps ten days ago. There was no other _mehari_. The rest were of the ordinary sort. I noticed this one and wondered, for such fine animals are rare among my clients. But soon I saw it was not right in its head. It was not mad in the dangerous way, which kills; but it was restless and strange. As we say, it had been looked on by the Evil Eye. Perhaps the leader of the caravan had got the brute cheap for that reason. Unless he wished some misfortune to fall upon the person who rode the white camel.
gpt
What sort of person rode it?
human
I cannot remember which one rode it, coming here. There were several men and several ladies, the family of the leader. They stopped here for the night--a night of simoom.
gpt
One of the ladies may have ridden the _mehari_?
human
May have: yes, monsieur.
gpt
And did one of the ladies occupy that room with the closed shutters?
human
I do not know, said the landlord.
gpt
It was one of the rooms taken by the party. We do not pry into the arrangements of a family when they are clients for a night.
human
him furiously, and had to be caught and chastised by the negroes. No further attempt was made to use it after that. The leader of the caravan bought a good, steady pack-camel from the landlord, and left the white aristocrat at the borg. At first the proprietor thought that he was in luck to come into possession of such a fine creature, but it soon proved worse than useless. It refused food: it would not sit down. It was constantly at the window into which it had previously stared, or else at the gate trying to escape. After a day or two the Arabs employed about the _fondouk_ said it was accursed, and asked the _patron_ to get rid of the brute, lest misfortune fall upon the place. Accordingly the once valuable _mehari_ was driven out into the desert, disappearing in the distance. But apparently it had not gone far. Since then it had returned several times with caravans, entering the courtyard with them, and walking at once to the window in which it was so strangely interested.
gpt
That is why, explained the landlord,
human
I now keep the shutters closed. I fear this accursed animal may break the glass before we have time to drive it away. There is not much travel at this time of year, and we have plenty of other rooms.
gpt
All the same I should like to be put into that room to-night, I said.
human
And as you tell me the white _mehari_ is not wicked, there can be no danger in your letting it stay in the courtyard till morning. I'm curious about the creature, and should like to see what it will do.