Page:Abdullah--Thief of Bagdad.djvu/235

Rh "You see," continued the Mongol, "during these last seven moons I have often wondered if Zobeid was simply playing with us, sending us on impossible errands, since, after all, she is a woman, thus perverse by instinct—or if she intended keeping her pledge!"

The Indian looked at the Persian, doubt sprouting in his brain as rice sprouts under the spring monsoon:

"Does she mean to keep her pledge? I wonder!"

"I wonder!" echoed the Persian.

"Let us find out!" suggested the Mongol.

"How?"

"By consulting the magic crystal!" replied the Mongol.

"Why not?" agreed the Prince of India.

"Why not indeed?" echoed he of Persia and of the paunch.