midnight
I come , '' stretched out her arms , and with a sudden shiver awoke to her surroundings . PART III THE FRUIT `` Doubtless my beloved sleeps ! '' thought Hahmed the Arab , as he looked at the watch on his wrist to find it pointing to midnight , and clapped his hands for fresh coffee , then lit another cigarette whilst his guest who , like himself , sat cross-legged on cushions on the floor , inhaled contentedly from a _ shibuk _ -LSB- 1 -RSB- in a house of rest on the outer edge of a distant oasis . Weary to death was he of the uninterrupted flow of words which unceasingly streamed from the mouth of the cross-bred man , who was gleefully rubbing the hands of his soul over what he imagined to be the clinching of a remarkable bargain with the Camel King , whereas if he had but known it , his host had merely put a little difficulty in the way so as to lengthen the deal , and thereby kill a few moments of the dreary hours of the dreary time he had passed since had left the woman he loved alone to learn the last words of her lesson . Turning he called sharply to the servile proprietor of the house , which for the first time was honoured by the presence of its redoubtable landlord . Salaaming until his tarboosh reached the level of his knees , the inwardly shaking Achmed stood before his two guests .