Darkness had come and lights gleamed upon the carriage-way; the funnels of the ships had disappeared, and above, in a clear, dark sky, glittered a great host of stars.
"With India, but not with the India of to-day," Hatch continued.
"Listen"; and over his coffee he told his story.

"I was walking down a narrow street of Mecca towards the big tank, when to my amazement I saw written up on a signboard above a door the single word 'Lodgings.' It was the English word, written, too, in the English character.

I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw it.

I stood amazed.

What was an English announcement, that lodgings were to be had within, doing in a town where no Englishman, were he known to be such, would live for a single hour?
I had half a mind to knock at the door and ask.