And the chorus of laughter, which is part and parcel of a hashish jag, was tremendous. Everyone thereupon had something to say on the subject. The contagion could not be checked. And Khalid was called “the dervish of science” by one; “the ropedancer of nature” by another.
“Our Prophet lived in a cave in the wilderness of New York for five years,” remarked a third.
“And he sold his camel yesterday and bought a bicycle instead.”
“The Young Turks can not catch him now.”
“Ah, but wait till England gets after our new Mahdi.”
“Wait till his new phthisic-stricken wife dies.”
“Whom will our Prophet marry, if among all the virgins of Egypt we can not find a consumptive for him?”
“And when he pulls down the pyramids to