Page:Ossendowski - The Fire of Desert Folk.djvu/282

266 by our two hosts, the elder of whom, a thin, short man with pale face and piercing eyes, welcomed us very solemnly and found us our places.

During the dinner, which was served almost immediately after our arrival, I remarked little that was in any way different from those already described. When tea was finally served, I made my attempt to open conversation with the two Amphitryons through the intelligent thaleb who was acting as interpreter, but found that the old men really did not wish to talk. So I withdrew from the front line and went into a flanking movement by beginning to tell about the countries I had visited, about meetings and conversations with dignitaries of different cults and about my impressions regarding the various religions. This move broke down all reserve and acted in a magic fashion to make the conversation run smoothly, the more so as the interpreter, who had begun his official duties in a rather perfunctory manner, developed a keen appreciation of what was passing and aided us materially by his added zeal. In a little while formality and distance had been so thoroughly replaced by an intimate interest that the two old men quitted their divans and squatted on rugs with their feet tucked under them. I followed suit, not only to be one with them in all their customs but because, from long experience with men of the outdoors and of the world where chairs are infrequent or unknown, I have a strong desire to get down near the ground when I talk of things that really interest me.

Suddenly the old man with the keen and quizzical eyes asked: