Page:Kéraban the Inflexible Part 1 (Jules Verne).djvu/18

20 "Of course:' he replied; and, throwing it away, he marched directly up to the Dutchman, who by no means expected such a meeting.

"Not till gun-fire," said the Turk, as he snatched the pipe from Bruno's lips.

"Here; my pipe!" exclaimed Bruno, whom his master vainly tried to control.

"Dog of a Christian—not till gun-fire," said the polite Turk.

"Dog yourself, Turk," retorted Bruno, with Christian spirit.

"Be quiet, Bruno," said Van Mitten.

"Let him give me my pipe, then; at least," said the valet.

"At gun-fire," replied the Turk, as he placed the pipe in the folds of his caftan.

"Come, Bruno, it is no use to transgress the customs of the country one visits," said his master.

"Robbers' customs:' said Bruno, indignantly.

"Come along, I say. My friend Kéraban will not arrive before seven o'clock. Let us resume our promenade, and we will meet him when the time comes."

So Van Mitten dragged away Bruno, who was much disgusted at being separated from his pipe, to which he clung with all the tenacity of a confirmed smoker.

As the strangers walked away, the Turks remarked one to the other,—

"Truly these Frankish strangers think they can do anything they please."

"Even to smoke before sunset!" Said the other.

"Do you want a light?" inquired his friend.

"Yes,—thank you," replied the other, as he lighted a fresh cigarette.