Page:MacGrath--The luck of the Irish.djvu/198

 yourself back to the hotel. And remember the boat."

"I know the way," replied William.

William knew the return route to his hotel. But he who hesitates is lost, and on the way back William hesitated against his better judgment.

A man had followed him from the theater, and when William became detached from the crowd, the man approached him secretly.

"Would the American gentleman like to see the celebrated Cairene dancers?"

"Not at all," said William.

"Ah, but you do not see Cairo if you miss these dancers. If you have not been to Madame Rene's, you have not seen Cairo, sir." William, recalling the twenty-one nationalities in the dance-halls of Smyrna's water-front, paused. Had he been carrying a large sum of money he would have gone on instantly. It was a questionable exploit; but, then, he was no prude. He recalled that only this very night Camden had spoken in regret of his inability to see some of the Cairene dancers this trip. William was out to see the world, and a Cairene dance-hall might as well take its place on the program in exchange for some future tomb or ruin.

"Lay on, Macduff; but I tell you what, if these dancers aren't up to the mark, I'll sic Thomas Cook on to you."

He was not very much impressed by the scene at madame's. It was sordid, and William did not like sordid pictures. The dancing girls were even