She was on her way down to Egypt; and I suspect she did not travel by train because she's been bought by some beast of a pasha.

They didn't want inquiries by passport people, or any interfering bunk like that.
"Anyhow, Ali Higg is quite a ladies' man, and he happened to be crossing the map with part of his gang of thieves somewhere down Beersheba way.

He agreed with the pasha on the point of taste and carried off the girl.

So old wool-merchant Rafiki had to refund the purchase-price--not that he admitted that to me, of course.
"I suspect that's where the rub comes.

If he hadn't been selling the girl illegally he'd surely have complained to you about the rape in the first instance.