And I
believe she's quite able to stand the racket. Her state of mind is such,
that if she looked sixteen in the morning, this afternoon she's gone
back to fifteen."
"Wonderful old lady! But she's so fragile--and has nervous
headaches----"
"She won't have any in my motor car."
"But Hamish and Angus. Can she get on without them?"
"She intends to have them follow her by train, with luggage. She says
she has a 'feeling in her bones' that they'll come in handy, either for
cooking or fighting. And by Jove, she may be right. She often is. If you
go to Biskra and wire when you get there, I'll start at once--_we'll_
start, I mean. And if Maieddine goes on anywhere else, and you follow to
keep him in sight, I'll probably catch you up with the car, because the
railway line ends at Biskra, you know; and beyond, there are only horses
or camels."
"Can motors go farther?"
"They can to Touggourt--with 'deeficulty,' as the noble twins would
say."
"Maieddine may take a car."
"Not likely. Though there's just a chance he might get some European
friend with a motor to give him a lift. In that case, you'd be rather
stuck."
"Motor cars leave tracks," said Stephen.
"Especially in the desert, where they are quite conspicuous," Nevill
agreed. "My aunt will be enchanted with your opinion of her and her
plan--but not surprised. She thinks you've twice my sense and knowledge
of the world."
Nevill usually enjoyed his own dinner-parties, for he was a born host,
and knew that guests were happy in his house.
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