which was , to my mind , not at all the sort of place where an English lady might feel at ease . I was uncomfortable with Mrs . Bamfield leaving , but she did not allow me a say in the matter , for before I could raise objection , she was gone !
In the end , Mr . Longville and I found our way to the palace of Abdullah Al-Khāfid , together , where his captive genie was on display . The palace was very much like a mausoleum : sleek and marble-white , with gilded domes of various sizes , and passages one might wander through for days without seeing another living person . The exhibition was empty , and there was no sound at all , other than the soft clapping of our footfalls .
“ Remember , they warned us not to speak to it , Missus ,” Mr . Longville said .
The cheek ! I was still a Miss , and I ’ d talk to it if I wanted ! When we neared the end of the passage we began to hear a voice . We slowed our steps so that we might not announce our arrival in an uncouth manner .
The Viewing Room was empty of visitors , for the other hunters had gone to luncheon . There was only Abdullah Al-Khafid himself , but that voice was still speaking . I looked beyond Al-Khafid , and gasped .
I cannot put into words how I felt , then , standing before this creature that was as ancient as the earth . I cannot deny there was a small , small part of me that wished to go on my knees before it , and beg for my life as the heathens do .
The Genie towered over his mortal master . The chain that bound the monster in perpetuity to its lamp seemed suddenly a fragile thing . Its voice ...
“ Abdullah Al-Khāfid ,” the monster spoke . “ Wilt thou make thy wish today ? Wilt thou receive my gifts on this day of days ?” Al-Khāfid only stared in silence . “ For today is an important day , is it not ?” continued the monster . “ Today is the day thou wilt die .”
At that , Al-Khāfid left the room , nodding briefly at us . We approached the Genie slowly , and its head fixed upon our movement — watching us with the look of a bored cat .
I asked Mr . Longville to draw it for me , so that I could always remember the Genie , its lamp , and the mechanical apparatus that forced the Djinn to remain outside and on perpetual display . I may not be able to have a lamp , but I will always have his picture .
As he drew , it seemed to me that the Genie sometimes observed us and sometimes looked off into the distance . When Mr . Longville was finished , we decided to go find some lunch and we left the palace . However , Mr . Longville had dropped one of his books or pencils or some such thing , so I headed back to get it for him . I wanted to get one more glimpse of that spectacular creature .
But when I returned to the great hall the Genie was gone ! The strange machine that kept the lamp open was completely devoid of any lamp . I climbed onto the pedestal to inspect the complex machinery . Its disappearance was a mystery for only a fleeting moment , however . As I looked toward the opposite side of the room , I spied the slender form of a young man carrying the lamp . It was a boy dressed in a thief ’ s costume . He winked at me and ran ! To be so bold !
“ Stop right there !” I cried , and began to take chase . I pursued him down five very long passages , up three flights of stairs , across four balconies , and through two gardens — one of which had a stone wall I was forced to climb . It was all extremely vexing . I mean , I wouldn ' t have minded the chase , but the obstacles ! He leaped over a balcony and out a window , and as I had followed him thus far , I saw no reason to yield pursuit , so I heaved a weary sigh and followed .