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 as Siddereticus reached back into the gondola and brought out a portly basket.

"I thought this would be a rather good place for supper," said he.

"Supper!" gasped Fen. "Are you—are we—"

We most certainly are," said the Djinn, as he set up the spirit-lamp and lighted it.

The sunset glow could hardly penetrate the depths of the little canal, and the lamp in the gondola made a strange, flickering light. All about, the dusky water lapped almost inaudibly; the dim houses seemed to tower gigantically in the gloom. Everything was very still. Once or twice a shadowy gondola passed, swinging its way down the canal, but there was no other sound, no other movement. Who could tell what was hidden within those somber houses, what was happening